Shaping a global solution

All countries will experience climate change in coming decades. In Australia, climate change poses a major threat to our economic prosperity, unique environment and way of life. Failure to reduce global emissions could result in a 90 per cent loss of irrigated agriculture in the Murray Darling Basin and threaten Australia's World Heritage Properties, including the Great Barrier Reef and Kakadu National Park.

Australia generates about 1.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, so our actions alone cannot avert the worst consequences of climate change. However, Australia is one of the world's biggest polluters on a per capita basis, so it is essential we do all we can as part of the global effort.

Climate change is a global problem that requires a global solution.

Helping to shape a global climate change solution is one of the Australian Government's highest priorities. Along with efforts to reduce domestic emissions and adapt to climate change impacts, it constitutes one of the three pillars on which Australia's comprehensive climate change response is built.

The Kyoto Protocol

The very first act of the former Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd, in December 2007 was to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol is an international and legally binding agreement that commits industrialised countries to reduce or limit their greenhouse gas emissions. For further information see: Overview of the Kyoto Protocol.

International climate change negotiations

Through the United Nations climate change negotiations, the international community is working to develop a new long-term approach for global cooperation on climate change. Australia is committed to playing its full and fair part. For more information on the negotiations, see: International climate change negotiations.

The Government has committed to reduce Australia's emissions by five to 15 per cent or 25 per cent below 2000 levels by 2020. The five per cent target represents Australia's unconditional commitment. Our targets of up to 15 per cent and 25 per cent are both conditional on the extent of action by others. Australia has formally pledged these 2020 targets under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. They are a constructive and responsible contribution to global action, and demonstrate Australia's commitment to playing its full and fair part in global mitigation action.

What Australia is doing

Australia also takes part in multilateral, bilateral and regional activities that contribute to the global effort to respond to climate change.

Australia participates in high level meetings on climate change that complement and help progress the UNFCCC agenda, including the Group of Twenty and the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF).

Australia also works with international partners on practical actions that enable countries to respond to climate change. For further information on Australia's bilateral partnerships, please see the Bilateral Climate Change Partnership Program.

Australia is working with our Pacific island neighbours to ensure that climate change does not undermine sustainable development gains. In 2009 the Australian Government released a publication to guide our work in the region: Engaging our Pacific Neighbours on Climate Change: Australia's approach.

Australia is taking action through the International Forest Carbon Initiative to help reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries.

Through this initiative, Australia is working closely with countries to find practical ways to reduce emissions from the forest sector. This includes collaborative Forest Carbon Partnerships with Indonesia and Papua New Guinea to build each country's capacity to reduce emissions from forests.

Australia is also assisting vulnerable countries in our region adapt to the impacts of climate change through the International Climate Change Adaptation Initiative.

The Australian Government also works through AusAID to assist vulnerable countries in our region to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Australia is actively involved in a range of initiatives on technology and policy to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

Related information

Australia regularly makes submissions to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). These submissions outline the Government's views on issues that are important to international climate change negotiations.