Sydney - After years of lively debate, the Australian parliament has passed a series of laws for taxing polluting CO2 emissions starting in mid 2012. The minority government's Labour Prime Minister Julia Gillard - who has had to beat powerful opposition from mining groups - spoke of a "historical day", emphasizing that it is possible to sustain the country's prosperity by "producing clean Energy." This is one of the most important reforms implemented in the past decade and a decision also destined to provide a new stimulus to international negotiations on climate change (the next talks will be held in Durban, South Africa, in December). The impact of this decision will be felt by the entire Australian economy, from mining companies to airlines, and should increase the energy efficiency of companies and stimulate the production of energy using gas and renewable energy sources. Australia generates only 1.5% of the world's CO2 emissions but has pro capite CO2 emissions that are among the highest in the world.