Australia: Mitigation

Mitigation

Australia and other developed countries must continue to lead action to reduce carbon pollution, but cuts by developed countries alone—no matter how deep—will not be sufficient to avoid dangerous climate change.

All countries must play their part if we are stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations at 450 ppm or lower. Only truly global action can bridge the gap between where we are now and where we need to be.

Negotiations centre on the scale of medium-term actions to reduce emissions that are needed around the world. Action should be commensurate with the capability and national circumstances of each country; a spectrum of effort is needed.

While developed countries have a responsibility to lead global efforts to meet the challenge of climate change, some developing countries have the capacity to take ambitious domestic action. Actions by these countries could include a wide range of activities such as emissions—or energy—intensity targets, action in specific sectors—including reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation—or fuel efficiency standards.

Developing countries with less ability to take ambitious domestic action should be assisted to contribute to the global effort. A range of support and incentives will be necessary to drive more ambitious global action. Well-functioning global carbon markets will assist countries to commit to and achieve ambitious mitigation objectives by facilitating reductions at least-cost and encouraging the development of low-emissions technologies.

Australia recognises the importance of all countries continuing to develop. Unabated climate change threatens this prospect. In order to safeguard economic prosperity, strong and urgent global emissions cuts are needed—now, for future generations.

Australia does not expect the poorest and most vulnerable countries to take on mitigation commitments that impede developmental priorities.
More information can be found in our submission on mitigation of global greenhouse gas emissions made to the UNFCCC in November 2008.

Australia is pursuing a post-2012 agreement that includes all advanced economies taking on economy-wide emissions reduction commitments comparable to Australia’s, and all major developing economies agreeing to slow the growth of, and ultimately reduce, their emissions.
Comparability of effort

The Bali Action Plan, a key element of the Bali Roadmap, calls for ‘comparability of effort’ in the mitigation commitments of developed countries.

‘Comparability’ refers to the evaluation of the relative effort required by different countries to achieve any given mitigation goal. Comparable mitigation effort should take into account national circumstances such as population growth, economic structure and growth, and natural resource endowments. This follows the approach that underpins the targets under the Kyoto Protocol.

Numeric indicators, such as economic cost, can play a useful role in understanding comparable effort and in assessing the relative ambition of a country’s mitigation commitments. While a number of factors are relevant to assessing comparability, no single indicator can provide a comprehensive picture of the particular national circumstances of any given country.

Indicators for comparable effort must be robust, relevant, impartial and credible. Getting ‘comparable effort’ right will be a key element to ensuring a fair post-2012 outcome.
Measurable, reportable and verifiable action

Comprehensive and regular information, particularly emissions inventory data, is crucial to ensure confidence and transparency in the climate change regime. Put simply, you can’t manage emissions if you don’t accurately measure them.

The Bali Action Plan proposes that mitigation actions by both developed and developing countries, along with the provision of support for developing country actions, are to be ‘measurable, reportable and verifiable’.

Agreement on what type of actions should be measurable, reportable and verifiable, and a process by which actions and support would be measured, reported and verified, will be key components of the post-2012 outcome.

Those countries that lack the current capacity to prepare robust greenhouse gas inventories will need to put the necessary systems in place. To achieve this, Australia acknowledges these countries will need continued technology, financing and capacity-building support.



Precis

The article “Mitigation” from the Australian Government- Department of Climate Change, stresses the importance of global participation in the reduction of carbon emissions, to slow down global warming. Although Australia stresses that it is of vital importance that all countries participate and take mitigation responsibilities, it makes it very clear that the world cannot expect the poorest (developing) countries to take such great responsibilities upon themselves. On the other hand there are some very easy steps that these less developed countries could take to reduce their excessive carbon emissions. While making these suggestions, the article makes three clear distinctions between “developing countries”. There are developed countries like Australia and the US, there are countries that are developing but “have the capacity to take upon ambitious domestic action” like China (a country that pretends to be developing but isn’t), and there are “developing countries with less ability to take ambitious domestic action, like Africa. The tone that is used in this article is very judgmental and clearly expresses Australia’s view on developed and developing polluters. The article frequently uses jargon and alliteration to convince the reader its opinion. The article uses a very demeaning and almost arrogant tone when it speaks of the developing nations and their incapability’s to contribute to a climate improvement. Australia seems to be very confident with its plan and believes that developed and developing countries need to work together to achieve the common goal of sustainability.