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INFORM-A^CTION

Issue Number 36 - February 2001

Climate Change
- Looking Towards Bonn in May 2001

In 1992 the United Nations (UN) convened the Earth Summit in Rio de Janerio - nearly a decade ago. At that summit the governments of the world took the first collective step towards a global agreement geared towards stabilising the gas emissions that give rise to what had become known as "the greenhouse effect". In Rio, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was agreed to. In 1997, in Kyoto, the parties to the UNFCCC met to decide what action should be taken by the community of nations to combat human-induced interference with the global climate system. The Kyoto Climate Summit had mixed outcomes. On the positive side, the Kyoto Protocol was the first ever international treaty with binding country targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, on the negative side, this has still to be signed, ratified and implemented by governments so that the aims of the treaty become effective. In November 2000, governments met again to address issues related to the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. Unfortunately, negotiations broke down and a final agreement was not reached. These negotiations are to be revived in Bonn in May this year.

Two helpful websites which will inform on the science of climate change and provide an up to date assessment of the global politics surrounding climate change are:

CLIMATE ARK

PACIFIC INSTITUTE

Where does Australia stand in these negotiations?

Australia has always taken the position that it is not feasible to reduce greenhouse gases to the levels being sought by the UNFCCC as the consequences for industry and employment would be too great. The reliance of this nation on burning fossil fuel, especially coal, for domestic and industrial energy is considerable. Australia also relies heavily upon oil for transport industries. In view of this, the Australian Government has taken the position that it will not stabilise or reduce current emission levels but, rather, simply put limits on the likely growth in emissions. The target proposed by Australia is to limit greenhouse gas emissions to 108% of 1990 levels by the 2008-2012 commitment period. The SAO critiqued this "limiting growth" position in a submission to the Federal Government in October 1997. A copy of this is available on request.

In the ongoing negotiations, Australia has aligned itself with an umbrella group which includes the United States, Canada, Japan and Russia - a group of the highest greenhouse gas emitters in the world! This coalition of national interests has been criticised for ducking real greenhouse gas reductions and seeking loopholes in the Protocol such as seeking credit for enhancing "carbon sinks" - that is, the natural storage of carbon gases in vegetation. Keeping carbon stored in forests and woodlands is one way of combating global warming. Australia argues that revegetation, limiting land clearance, forestation and sustainable land management should be valued more in climate change negotiations. Following this logic, the Australian Government has hit upon the idea of including woody weed invasion or "vegetation thickening" into its carbon sinks calculations! It remains to be seen how far this position is taken. See The Wilderness Society website for more on this.

While carbon sinks cannot be dismissed as an important strategy for reducing CO2 this will not solve the problem. CO2 is poured into the atmosphere through coal powered electricity generation and burning up oil in our aeroplanes, cars, trucks, boats. Further, there are other greenhouse gases that need to be reduced. There is no escaping the need for all citizens and industry to play their part.

As Australia prepares to go to Bonn to resume negotiations, we need to impress upon the Federal Government the urgency of this matter and that we require a long-term strategic approach to addressing our national reliance on technologies that emit greenhouse gases. This will be addressed more comprehensively in a Briefing Note that will be uploaded onto the SAO website in late February. A letter-writing and email campaign will be developed alongside this in the lead-up to the Bonn meeting.

For more information contact the SAO.

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		INFORM-A^CTION Issue Number 36 - February 2001 Climate Change - Looking Towards Bonn in May 2001 In 1992 the United Nations (UN) convened the Earth Summit in Rio de Janerio - nearly a decade ago. At that summit the governments of the world took the first collective step towards a global agreement geared towards stabilising the gas emissions that give rise to what had become known as "the greenhouse effect". In Rio, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was agreed to. In 1997, in Kyoto, the parties to the UNFCCC met to decide what action should be taken by the community of nations to combat human-induced interference with the global climate system. The Kyoto Climate Summit had mixed outcomes. On the positive side, the Kyoto Protocol was the first ever international treaty with binding country targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, on the negative side, this has still to be signed, ratified and implemented by governments so that the aims of the treaty become effective. In November 2000, governments met again to address issues related to the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. Unfortunately, negotiations broke down and a final agreement was not reached. These negotiations are to be revived in Bonn in May this year. Two helpful websites which will inform on the science of climate change and provide an up to date assessment of the global politics surrounding climate change are: CLIMATE ARK PACIFIC INSTITUTE Where does Australia stand in these negotiations? Australia has always taken the position that it is not feasible to reduce greenhouse gases to the levels being sought by the UNFCCC as the consequences for industry and employment would be too great. The reliance of this nation on burning fossil fuel, especially coal, for domestic and industrial energy is considerable. Australia also relies heavily upon oil for transport industries. In view of this, the Australian Government has taken the position that it will not stabilise or reduce current emission levels but, rather, simply put limits on the likely growth in emissions. The target proposed by Australia is to limit greenhouse gas emissions to 108% of 1990 levels by the 2008-2012 commitment period. The SAO critiqued this "limiting growth" position in a submission to the Federal Government in October 1997. A copy of this is available on request. In the ongoing negotiations, Australia has aligned itself with an umbrella group which includes the United States, Canada, Japan and Russia - a group of the highest greenhouse gas emitters in the world! This coalition of national interests has been criticised for ducking real greenhouse gas reductions and seeking loopholes in the Protocol such as seeking credit for enhancing "carbon sinks" - that is, the natural storage of carbon gases in vegetation. Keeping carbon stored in forests and woodlands is one way of combating global warming. Australia argues that revegetation, limiting land clearance, forestation and sustainable land management should be valued more in climate change negotiations. Following this logic, the Australian Government has hit upon the idea of including woody weed invasion or "vegetation thickening" into its carbon sinks calculations! It remains to be seen how far this position is taken. See The Wilderness Society website for more on this. While carbon sinks cannot be dismissed as an important strategy for reducing CO2 this will not solve the problem. CO2 is poured into the atmosphere through coal powered electricity generation and burning up oil in our aeroplanes, cars, trucks, boats. Further, there are other greenhouse gases that need to be reduced. There is no escaping the need for all citizens and industry to play their part. As Australia prepares to go to Bonn to resume negotiations, we need to impress upon the Federal Government the urgency of this matter and that we require a long-term strategic approach to addressing our national reliance on technologies that emit greenhouse gases. This will be addressed more comprehensively in a Briefing Note that will be uploaded onto the SAO website in late February. A letter-writing and email campaign will be developed alongside this in the lead-up to the Bonn meeting. For more information contact the SAO. Next Newsletter Article Newsletter Index