Negotiators, ministers and heads of state will gather in Paris in December 2015 to finalise the international framework through which the world will reduce carbon pollution post-2020.
Paris is a critical milestone for setting domestic ambition, since it’s countries’ own policies, not international treaties, that reduce pollution. The detail and perception of the agreement will shape international action on climate change for the next decade.
The science is loud and clear: the world is warming, driven by rising emissions from burning fossil fuels. The world's leading scientists have concluded that global warming of 2°C or more above pre-industrial levels will result in irreversible and catastrophic consequences. Over 190 nations, including Australia, have committed to avoiding 2°C of warming.
Ahead of Paris, countries have been announcing their post-2020 emissions reduction targets. Australia's initial offer is to reduce emissions by 26 per cent, and possibly 28 per cent, on 2005 levels by 2030. The Climate Institute deems this insufficient, failing key climate and economic competitiveness tests.
Final targets will need to be submitted after the Paris negotiations when the government ratifies the new agreement.
Report
Global Climate Leadership Review 2015: What the Paris climate negotiations mean for Australia and our economy
Excerpts
