Document
Index
1999-2000 Ministerial Statements
Investing in our Natural and
Cultural Heritage
Chapter 8
|
Document
Index |
|
|
The Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO) was established in April 1998. In its first year of operation it has:
Details of Australian Greenhouse Office programmes and initiatives and activities to deliver on them are shown on its Website (www.greenhouse.gov.au).
Contact: Australian Greenhouse Office -- 026274 1859
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change provides the international
focus for action to protect the global climate system. The Convention's ultimate objective
is to stabilise `greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would
prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human-induced) interference with the climate system'.
As a Party to the Convention, the Government takes very seriously its responsibility to
ensure that Australia makes a realistic, sustainable, fair and effective international
contribution to global action on climate change.
The Kyoto Protocol, and the subsequent Buenos Aires Plan of Action (adopted in November 1998), are significant steps forward in the development of an international response to global warming. However, neither addresses the issue of commitments for developing countries to reduce their emissions, and this will be a focus of ongoing negotiations under the Convention.
| Box 8.1: Outcomes from International Climate Change
Negotiations At Kyoto (December 1997) developed countries agreed to reduce their collective emissions to at least 5 per cent below 1990 levels. While the Kyoto Protocol is yet to enter into force, it represents the first time that the international community has agreed to a framework incorporating legally binding emissions targets to deal with climate change. Australia will be required to limit its growth in greenhouse emissions in the period 2008-12 to 8 per cent above 1990 levels. This represents a reduction of 20 per cent from business as usual projections, which is comparable to the tasks facing other developed countries (Australia signed the Kyoto Protocol in April 1998.) Australia's ratification of the Protocol will be subject to a National Impact Analysis of the implications of ratification for Australia. The framework agreed in Kyoto gives countries flexibility in meeting their targets. The inclusion of land use change and forestry activities (afforestation, deforestation and reforestation since 1990) will deliver an environmental benefit by ensuring that all avenues for reducing emissions are covered. Provision for international emissions trading and joint implementation with developed and developing countries (through a Clean Development Mechanism) offer further opportunities for low-cost emissions reductions. Negotiations on the rules governing these mechanisms, and the treatment of greenhouse sinks, was progressed at the fourth Conference of Parties in November 1998, which resulted in the Buenos Aires Plan of Action. This is a blueprint for negotiations aimed at finalising the operations of various mechanisms under the Protocol at the sixth Conference of the Parties in late 2000. |
Australia is working with other countries to advance a number of technical and
implementation issues, including for example arrangements for international emissions
trading and the Clean Development Mechanism with developing countries, and rules relating
to carbon sequestration, through the international negotiations.
While the Protocol was agreed by countries at the Third Conference of Parties (COP3) in
December 1997, it is still to enter into force. This may take several years given the
ongoing international negotiations in a number of elements of the Protocol and
consideration of domestic signature and ratification processes by the various countries
involved in the negotiations.
Contact: Australian Greenhouse Office -- 02 6274 1420
The Commonwealth Government:
Contact: Department of Industry Science and Resources -- 02 6272 4475
In the 1998-99 financial year, Australia spent $23.4 million on bilateral and regional activities aimed at assisting developing countries abate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. Australia's climate change activities focus on renewable energy and energy policy, forestry, land management, and support for environmental institutions. Since 1991-92, Australia has committed $38.6 million to the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Approximately 40 per cent of GEF funding is used to implement climate change projects.
Australia recognises the special vulnerability of small Pacific Island countries to climate change and sea level rise and has committed $14 million to the Sea Level and Climate Monitoring Project. Under this project sea level monitoring stations, transmission networks, and computer systems have been constructed in 11 Pacific Island countries. The project also provides assistance in environmental training, education and institutional strengthening. Together with France, Australia has recently commenced a $1.5 million programme to support the development of renewable energy in the region.
| Box 8.2: Renewable Energy Training Project--Indonesia With Government support, the International Centre for Application of Solar Energy (CASE) in Perth is undertaking a renewable energy training project in Indonesia in collaboration with the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI). The project is culminating with the installation of a solar/wind/hydro power-supply system that is being used to provide electricity to a workshop in a remote village in Irian Jaya. The workshop will process locally grown food and repair agricultural equipment as well as fulfil the role of a training centre for the region. |
Contact: AusAID -- 02 6206 4566
