Copenhagen Accord
The Copenhagen Accord, agreed in December 2009 in Copenhagen was an important step along the global path forward on climate change.
Under the Accord, global leaders decided for the first time under the UNFCCC to:
- hold any increase in global temperature to below 2 degrees Celsius
- specify, side by side, emissions targets for developed countries and actions to reduce emissions by developing countries
- a framework for national and international monitoring of what developed and developing countries will do
- considerable financing to support emissions reductions and adaptation in developing countries.
The Accord includes developed-country commitments to collectively provide new and additional resources approaching USD 30 billion over the next three years. And, in the context of meaningful actions to reduce emissions and transparency on implementation, it establishes a long-term goal for developed countries to jointly mobilise USD 100 billion a year by 2020, from a range of funding sources.
The Accord also includes a decision to establish a 'Technology Mechanism' to drive innovation and diffusion of clean technology, and agreement to the need to immediately establish a mechanism for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD).
Australia formally registered its support for the Accord in Copenhagen. Countries were invited to submit information on their emission targets and mitigation actions pursuant to the Copenhagen Accord by 31 January 2010.
Australia made its
submission to the UNFCCC secretariat on 27 January 2010.
Tackling climate change requires sustained ambition over the long-term—the Accord is one important step in the right direction.
The text of the Accord can be found on the
UNFCCC website
Related
information
Australia regularly makes submissions to the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on
issues that are important to international climate change negotiations.