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% 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 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 an 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 carbon pollution to 25 per cent below 2000 levels by 2020 if the world agrees to an ambitious global deal consistent with stabilising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at 450 parts per million CO2-equivalent or lower.
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. The Government has released a new publication to guide its 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 (REDD). Under our collaborative Forest Carbon Partnerships, we are working closely with Indonesia and Papua New Guinea to build each countries capacity to reduce emissions from forests.
The 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.