Cancun 2010
Key outcomes for the Australian Government from the Cancun Conference
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference held in Cancún, Mexico, 29 November-10 December 2010, achieved important progress towards a comprehensive post-2012 international agreement to address climate change.
The Cancún Agreements are a "balanced package" of decisions delivering solid outcomes for developing and developed countries to help them address climate change. They build on the work of the Copenhagen Conference 2009 and bring key elements of the Copenhagen Accord into the UNFCCC negotiations. They also provide the building blocks for future negotiations on a comprehensive agreement that will cover all the major emitters.
The Cancun Agreements are an important step forward towards the ultimate aim of a flexible, environmentally effective and durable post-2012 outcome that covers all major emitters. Although the Cancun Agreements themselves are not a treaty level outcome they do not prejudge the prospects for, or the content of, any future legal agreement. Read more about a post 2012 legally binding outcome >
The Cancun Agreements anchor under the UNFCCC the mitigation pledges made by developed and developing countries in the Copenhagen Accord. They also include agreement by developed and developing countries to report their actions to reduce greenhouse emissions, and to do so transparently through improved reporting processes. This provides an agreed pathway to achieve major emissions cuts, and is the first time that all major emitters have agreed to report to the world community their commitments and efforts to reduce carbon pollution in their own economies. Read more about mitigation >
Australia played an integral role in securing an outcome on climate change finance. In Cancun the Conference President invited the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, the Hon Greg Combet AM MP to co-facilitate the finance negotiations, which he did with focus. Cancun delivered agreement to establish a new Green Climate Fund to support climate change action in developing countries and created a new Transitional Committee to design the new fund in 2011. Read more about financial support >
Adaptation to the adverse impacts of climate change is a challenge faced by all countries. Australia worked in Cancun to build consensus on a number of adaptation initiatives including: establishment of an Adaptation Framework to enhance country implementation and international cooperation on adaptation; a process for least developed countries to develop "national adaptation plans" as a means of identifying medium and long-term adaptation needs; establishment of an Adaptation Committee to provide technical support and guidance; and a work programme to consider approaches for addressing loss and damage. Australia will continue to prioritise, in the implementation of these initiatives, support for adaptation action in the most vulnerable developing countries, such as small island developing states, least developed countries and Africa. Read more about adaptation >
Australia played a vital role in the establishment at Cancun of a Technology mechanism to drive innovation and diffusion of clean technology. The mechanism will accelerate technology development and transfer in support of countries’ action on adaptation and mitigation, guided by countries’ most urgent needs, priorities and national circumstances. The Cancun Agreement defined the scope and mandate of the Mechanism’s core components, including a Climate Technology Centre and Network and a Technology Executive Committee, and called for the Technology Executive Committee to meet as soon as possible. Work will continue in 2011 on the functions and modalities of the Climate Technology Centre and Network, to be established at the next Conference of the Parties in Durban, South Africa. Read more about technology mechanisms >
REDD+ negotiations saw a major breakthrough for the World’s forests, with countries agreeing to protect forests in developing countries as part of a global effort to combat climate change. Deforestation currently accounts for around 18 per cent of global emissions. Now, for the first time under the UNFCCC, a REDD+ mechanism will deliver economic opportunities for developing countries to slow, halt and reverse emissions from their forests. The outcome sends the clear message that forests play a crucial role for the atmosphere and that this value is recognised. The REDD+ decision also establishes safeguards to promote good environmental and social outcomes. Negotiations will continue in 2011 on the technical rules for REDD+ and on financing, including the role of markets. Read more about REDD+ >