Transcript Financial Crisis in East Asia

Equity and Global Climate Change
Developing Countries and the
Climate Change Challenge
Alistair Maclean, Australian Embassy
The Climate Change Challenge
Article
2 of the UNFCCC provides:
– “The ultimate objective of this Convention
and any related legal instruments that the
Parties may adopt is to achieve, in
accordance with the relevant provisions of the
Convention, stabilization of greenhouse gas
concentrations in the atmosphere at a level
that would prevent dangerous anthropgenic
interference with the climate system.”
We don’t know what the
stabilisation level should be
But
we do know that the level of
reductions embodied in the Kyoto
Protocol targets are but a small step in
that direction
We do know that global emissions will
continue to grow, irrespective of the
Kyoto targets
Emissions Growth
Developed
countries accounted for
approximately 46% of emissions in
1995
By 2010, developing countries will
account for around 55% of global
emissions
The environmental objective
of the UNFCCC cannot be
achieved without developing
country participation
All countries will feel the
impact of global warming
irrespective of their historical
contribution
Arguments for developing
country participation
Environmental
arguments
Article
2 of the UNFCCC
growth of developing country emissions
carbon leakage (a major concern)
equity
and responsible government
agrument
economic welfare argument
Arguments invoked against
developing country participation
UNFCCC
calls on developed countries
to take the lead
developed countries are historically
responsible for the build-up of GHG
levels
per-capita emissions in developing
countries remain lower
developing countries should not have
their economic development curtailed
Carbon Leakage
 Possible
relocation of carbon-intensive
industries to non-Annex I countries may
lead to leakage of up to 20 per cent (IPCC
WG3)
 Major political issue for carbon-intensive
economy like Australia
 Net loss to environment if technology in
host country more emissions intensive
Combatting climate change
consistent with development
 lower
emissions technologies can have
significant economic benefits and many “no
regrets” opportunities exist
 There are potentially large economic gains
through international emissions trading for
developing countries once they take on
targets
 energy price reform can reduce emissions
while generating economic efficiencies
Australia’s Position
Developing
country participation is
essential for:
environmental
equity
reasons
reasons
international competitiveness reasons
political reasons
Some Practical Challenges
identifying
equitable commitments
overcoming uncertainties associated
with forecasting GHG emission levels
identifying incentives for developing
countries to participate
The Path Forward
all
countries need to be thinking more
about these issues
bring them into the mainstream
negotiations
grasp opportunities to address
genuinely the climate change problem