2. Content of Presentation
• Introduction;
• Global climate change and the UNFCCC regime;
• Australia and global climate change;
• Australia and the UNFCCC;
• Conclusion.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. • 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. “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!
