Australia and Global Climate

ChangeAibek Esengeldiyev

IR-4B

Content of Presentation

• Introduction;

• Global climate change and the UNFCCC regime;

• Australia and global climate change;

• Australia and the UNFCCC;

• Conclusion.

Introduction

• Global climate change has emerged as one of the most significant challenges in world politics today. While this is significant enough, climate change also constitutes a fundamental challenge for the core institutions and practices of world politics. This chapter focuses on engagement with the international politics of climate change, and the UNFCCC ( UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) process, in particular, by one state-Australia.

Global Climate Change and the UNFCCC Regime

• Global Climate Change refers to the process wherein an increase in the volume of gases responsible for trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere leads to an increase in the Earth’s temperature, with follow-on effects for climate patterns and severe weather phenomena. The UNFCCC was agreed in 1992 at the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, and was signed by 154 states. The UNFCCC provided a platform for negotiations based on preventing negative consequences of Global Climate Change.

Australia and Global Climate Change

• In terms of foreign policy traditions, Australian governments have traditionally understood their national interests as being served through engagement with international society. Australian governments have generally recognized the importance of making a contribution to addressing international problems and engaging actively in international institutions which attempt to develop rules and mechanisms for the management of global politics.

• At the domestic level, Australia’s role in developing a strong approach to cooperation on global climate change is most obviously challenged by its economic interests in the production and export of coal. Australians are among the largest per capita green-house emitters in the world, with particularly high emissions associated with transport and energy. More directly, the size of Australia’s coal industry suggests significant short-term economic interests in inaction on climate change mitigation and even in the failure of a global climate change regime.

Australia and the UNFCCC:Governmental ideologies

• 1) The Hawke government (1983-1992)-global climate change to be “the biggest challenge facing mankind in this or any other age.”

• 2)The Keating government(1992-1996)-calling on industry to reduce emissions “wherever economically efficient.”

• 3) The Howard government (1996-2007)-economic growth and job protection over environmental concerns.

• 4) The Rudd government (2007-2010)-public opinion on climate change.

Conclusion

• The example of Australia’s engagement with the climate change regime in its foreign policy illustrates a complex relationship between international dynamics, domestic politics, and the ideologies of different governments. In instances where international concerns are high and international action on climate change has gained momentum, states, such as Australia have appeared compelled to engage constructively with the international regime. Therefore maintaining and strengthening global concern about the effects of climate change may be central to the prospects of overcoming the myriad difficulties associated with reaching an international climate change agreement.

“The clear and present danger of climate change means we cannot burn our way to prosperity. We already rely too heavily on fossil fuels. We need to find a new, sustainable path to the future we

want. We need a clean industrial revolution” Ban Ki-moon

Thank You for attention!