{"id":30885,"date":"2015-11-23T22:32:05","date_gmt":"2015-11-23T11:32:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nofibs.com.au\/?p=30885"},"modified":"2019-04-16T13:31:18","modified_gmt":"2019-04-16T03:31:18","slug":"australias-climate-stance-for-paris-cop21-reports-takvera-auspol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/australias-climate-stance-for-paris-cop21-reports-takvera-auspol\/","title":{"rendered":"Australia’s #climate stance for Paris #COP21 reports @takvera #Auspol"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nIt seems that Australia has flexibility in negotiating for a global climate agreement in Paris. Minister Hunt even expressed that there is some room for Australia to lift it’s targets, after a review, through purchase of carbon credits. But it appears there is no extra funding to the Green Climate Fund on the table. <\/p>\n

Australia as a mid-level power carries some influence at sensitive negotiations such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) annual summit, called the Conference of Parties or simply COP. This year in Paris is the 21st year of negotiations, hence COP21. <\/p>\n

Tom Arup in The Age<\/em> has a good summary<\/a> of the Australian political negotiating position on climate, writing that Australia’s “team now has a negotiating mandate approved by cabinet. It is understood to be flexible and allows Australia to sign up to a strong agreement, including one with lofty language about the long-term ambition of the agreement.”<\/p>\n

Earlier this month at the Pre-COP meeting<\/a> while Environment Minister Greg Hunt received applause for Australia’s perceived more conciliatory stance on climate action, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was telling a Coalition party room meeting in Canberra that no additional money and no part of the government’s climate policy would change as a result of COP21. <\/p>\n

It was Bishop’s understanding that Australia’s primary role at the Paris climate conference is to assist with “rules and transparency”, according to Nine News<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Even though our emissions are projected to keep rising by 2020, Environment Minister Hunt may use the UN conference to announce that Australia has already met our 5 per cent reduction target by 2020. Leonore Taylor explains<\/a> this in detail at The Guardian<\/em> how we can meet our very low 5 per cent target with rising emissions. It is all part of using the rules of carbon accounting.<\/p>\n

Our ambassador for the Environment Peter Woolcott, who will be one of Australia’s lead diplomatic negotiators, gave a thorough rundown of Australia’s position and the state of negotiations in a speech to the Queensland Global Change Institute. Graham Readfearn reported<\/a> the speech for The Guardian<\/em>. It is worthwhile reading in full.<\/p>\n

Woolcott argues that three issues are of primary importance. Firstly that all countries commit to mitigation efforts that are nationally determined but also meet minimum-quality criteria for mitigation. Secondly, that accountability and transparency in how states are meeting their commitments is important for tracking purposes for building greater ambition. Thirdly, that a durable process or review and upscaling is put into place to build action over time.<\/p>\n

Peter Woolcott argues that the terrorist attacks in Paris<\/a> will, if anything, increase France\u2019s desire for a strong climate deal out of COP21. The issue in France, however, is that the bans placed on major street protest<\/a> with the state of emergency has disempowered a major avenue for civil society and public voice on the negotiations, while business lobby groups have not been affected in the same way. Activist groups have vowed to mobilise at the climate summit<\/a> despite the ban.<\/p>\n

Temperature Targets: 1.5 degrees or 2 degrees?<\/h3>\n

Giles Parkinson at RenewEconomy<\/em> reports<\/a> “Australia remains open to including an option to tighten the global climate target to a maximum 1.5\u00b0C warming above pre-industrial levels, and may also support a long-term goal for the world to be \u201ccarbon neutral\u201d by 2050.” <\/p>\n

More than 100 countries have joined the call for worldwide support to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (See #1o5C campaign www.1o5C.org<\/a>). As Giles Parkinson discusses, Australia\u2019s official line is that it supports the 2\u00b0C target, but there is considerable pressure from the Climate Vulnerable Forum<\/a> Group and others for the adoption of a 1.5\u00b0C target to avoid the risks implicit with the 2 degrees C target that only leaves a 50-50 chance of avoiding the impact of runaway climate change and would inundate or devastate many tropical and small island nations.<\/p>\n

The Climate Vulnerable Forum met in the Philippines from 9-11 November and issued the Manila Communique<\/a> which called for an ambitious, universal, legally-binding, dynamic and durable international agreement at COP21, which enshrines a goal of below 1.5 degrees C, successive 5-year review cycle, scaled up climate mitigation and adaptation finance, and confirmation of a loss and damage mechanism as part of the agreement.<\/p>\n

The 1.5 degree C target remains in the text to be negotiated at Paris, with many parties, particularly small island nations and most African states, wanting it to stay there, or even be the principal target.<\/p>\n

Is a 1.5 degree target achievable? Scientists say that it is<\/a>, but barely, and would require rapid escalation of renewables, energy efficiency and programs to cut emissions, as well as research and development into carbon negative technologies and processes.<\/p>\n

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Key facts on the 1.5\u00b0C temperature goal https:\/\/t.co\/uYebACXFj8<\/a> #1o5C<\/a> #1point5toStayAlive<\/a> #COP21<\/a><\/p>\n

— Climate Analytics (@CA_Latest) November 13, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n