Australian
Wednesday 26/11/2008 Page: 2
Canberra is pushing to change the rules for international climate change talks in Copenhagen next year to prevent rich developed countries, such as Singapore and South Korea, being required to do less because the Kyoto Protocol classifies them as developing.
Australia argues that the next global climate change deal should require binding economy-wide targets of developed countries, with unspecified binding "action" required of developing nations. But, in its submission to the UN ahead of next month's meeting in Poznan, Poland, to prepare for the Copenhagen talks, the Australian Government says the Kyoto delineation of developed and developing is unfair.
"Since the convention was adopted in 1992, no work has been done to better differentiate the responsibilities of parties beyond ... simple lists which no longer reflect current realities," the Australian submission says. It says the lists were based on which states were members of the OECD in 1992 and that they classify countries such as Singapore, South Korea and Malta as developing, while Ukraine is considered developed.
The lists will become critical if the negotiations lead to the adoption of Australia's preferred position on national commitments for the post-Kyoto period after 2012. Australia will announce a range for its 2020 emission reduction targets next month. Climate Change Minister Penny Wong will attend the talks in Poznan. International Energy Agency executive director Nobuo Tanaka told The Australian yesterday countries such as Australia should not delay greenhouse measures due to the global financial crisis.
"It is not the case that the global financial crisis should delay measures to mitigate climate change because the cost will only get higher in the future," Mr Tanaka said. He warned oil prices could soar after the financial crisis and urged governments to spend some of their fiscal stimulus on renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
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