International climate change negotiations

In December 2007, at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations in Bali, the international community committed to develop a new, long-term approach for global cooperation on climate change, to be agreed in Copenhagen in December 2009. This is known as 'the Bali Roadmap'.

At the UNFCCC negotiations in Copenhagen, Parties took note of the Copenhagen Accord. The Accord, strongly supported by both developed and developing countries, was a welcome step forward on international climate change action.

In Copenhagen, Parties also agreed to continue the Bali Roadmap negotiations with the aim of concluding these negotiations at the Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico at the end of 2010.

The UNFCCC negotiations held in Cancun, Mexico in November-December 2010 achieved good progress towards a post-2012 international outcome on climate change. The meeting concluded with the Cancun Agreements, a package of decisions balanced to meet the expectations of developing and developed countries, that build on the work of the Copenhagen conference and bring key elements of the Copenhagen Accord into the negotiations. Read more about the Cancun outcomes.

The United Nations climate negotiations in Durban, South Africa (28 November to 10 December 2011) opened the way to bring all of the world’s major economies – including the United States, China, India and Brazil – into a new international framework for reducing carbon pollution. Read more about the Durban outcomes.

Australia is a constructive participant in the UNFCCC negotiations, working to achieve an outcome that is:

  • Effective: through a pragmatic and long-term global approach that sets the world on a path to a low emissions future and reduces the impacts of climate change
  • Fair: all countries should act, taking into account their level of development and national circumstances
  • Efficient: by achieving its goals at the least-cost.

Fundamental factors in the negotiations

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.