{"id":30920,"date":"2015-11-25T13:00:29","date_gmt":"2015-11-25T02:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nofibs.com.au\/?p=30920"},"modified":"2019-04-16T13:31:18","modified_gmt":"2019-04-16T03:31:18","slug":"australians-say-lift-climate-targets-as-un-summit-approaches-takvera-auspol-cop21","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/australians-say-lift-climate-targets-as-un-summit-approaches-takvera-auspol-cop21\/","title":{"rendered":"Australians say lift climate targets as UN summit approaches – @takvera #Auspol #COP21"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"20151125-UNFCCC-COP21-sign-Le-Bourget-IMG_1602-feature\"<\/a>
\nAccording to a Lowy Institute public opinion poll<\/a> conducted in October-November 2015 over half of Australia’s population believes that climate change is “a serious and pressing problem. We should begin taking steps now even if this involves significant costs”. <\/p>\n

Over the last few years concern has been steadily growing about climate change and the need to take action. The Lowy Institute points out that this is an increase of 16 percentage points since 2012 to 52 per cent. <\/p>\n

Another 36 per cent of people reckon that “The problem of global warming should be addressed, but its effects will be gradual, so we can deal with the problem gradually by taking steps that are low in cost.”<\/p>\n

Just 11 per cent of people believe we “should not take any steps that would have economic costs.”<\/p>\n

On climate targets, 62 per cent of people think we “should be prepared to make stronger commitments on emissions reductions in the interests of reaching a global agreement”. Malcolm Turnbull and Greg Hunt should keep this level of support in mind when they meet other heads of state and our diplomats start negotiating a climate agreement in Paris atthe UN climate conference.<\/p>\n

Australia’s current targets are widely seen as inadequate, ethically and scientifically, and according to the Lowy opinion poll most people would support lifting the targets to help achieve a global agreement. Only 36 percent of people said we should stick to our current target regardless of what other countries do.<\/p>\n

\"20151125-lowy-polling\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In June 2014 public opinion polling showed that Climate leadership was demanded of the Australian Government<\/a>. It wasn’t forthcoming.<\/p>\n

The third question asked by the Lowy Institute survey was on which mechanism was preferred for reducing emissions: the Government’s Direct Action plan; or an emissions trading scheme or price on carbon. A bare majority favoured the direct action model while 43 per cent favoured an ETS or carbon pricing. <\/p>\n

The Lowy Institute found 43 per cent continued support for an ETS or carbon pricing surprising, yet it shows the debate is far from over in Australia, especially as on an international level carbon pricing is growing among nations and sub-national governing regions. How we reduce emissions in Australia, it seems, will continue to remain politically contentious. <\/p>\n

At the end of 2013 opinion polling showed support for carbon pricing and climate change action<\/a>, despite ‘the Axe the Tax’ rhetoric from the Liberal Party that was used to wind back Australia’s carbon pricing policy.<\/p>\n

On a moratorium on new coal mines, a recent poll by Essential<\/a> found that “47% would support a ban on new coalmines and coalmine expansions and 25% would oppose. A majority of Labor voters (60%) and Greens voters (80%) would support a ban while Liberal\/National voters were split 36% support\/33% oppose.” <\/p>\n

Both the Labor and Liberal National Parties should look at their current pro-coalmining attitude which seems to be more and more out of synch with popular opinion.<\/p>\n

Recently the President of Kiribati, Anote Tong, visited Australia and urged the government to adopt a no new coal mines policy to reduce greenhouse gases and support Pacific Island and vulnerable nations in their call for 1.5 degree limit at the Paris climate talks.<\/p>\n

Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty argues at the Conversation<\/em> that Australia should back calls to end coal and save its drowning neighbours<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When Essential asked a question on how soon world leaders should take action on climate change<\/a>: “do world leaders need to act to prevent the world\u2019s population from being impacted by climate change?” <\/p>\n

The response was that 60 per cent of those polled think that the world leaders need to act on climate change now or in the next 12 months. Another 12 per cent said action needed to be taken in the next 5 years.<\/p>\n

There has also been strong support over many years for renewable energy. This is seen in the 1.4 million households that have installed solar PV. In July 2015 opinion polling found that most people wanted renewables prioritised over coal<\/a> in the energy sector.<\/p>\n

Climate Change Conference to start with leaders meeting<\/h3>\n

The latest polling comes as 147 world leaders meet on Monday 30 November in Paris at the UN climate conference. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will be attending for the leaders summit on the first day. Environment Minister Greg Hunt and Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop will lead Australia’s negotiating team over the following two weeks of the conference.<\/p>\n

175 countries have now published their climate action plans, called INDCs. This covers about 93 per cent of the world’s emissions. There are 195 countries that can participate in the conference.<\/p>\n

After the leaders summit, it is expected diplomats and appropriate Ministers will engage in the task of negotiating a climate agreement that will come into effect from 2020.<\/p>\n

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147 Heads of State and Government will attend the #COP21<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/JWGQseBPm8<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ubePYWYGHZ<\/a><\/p>\n

— COP21 – Paris 2015 (@COP21) November 24, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n