Australia 2020 target dismissed at global climate talks in Germany

The Wilderness Society Inc
Media Release
2 June 2009

More than 450 non-government organisations from around the world have voted in favour of Australia receiving a "Fossil of the Day" award at the United Nation’s climate change talks in Bonn, Germany.

The conditions attached to Australia’s announcement of a 2020 target to reduce greenhouse emissions have been described by the NGOs as “obnoxious” as they will make it extremely difficult for agreement to be reached on a high target at  Copenhagen in December, the Wilderness Society’s Virginia Young said.

“Australia still has the highest per capita emissions in the world and its energy emissions increased by 40 per cent between 1990 and 2006. Clearly, no-one believes Australia is committed to more than a 5 per cent reduction in carbon pollution by 2020.”

Ms Young also said that Australia would have to do much more than it currently has to play a credible and meaningful role to help solve the global climate crisis.

“Australia has only met its current Kyoto target thanks to a one-off benefit from ending broadscale tree clearing in Queensland.

“If Australia is to contribute its fair share to reducing emissions, it should take a commitment to a target of 40 per cent reduction in emissions by 2020 to Copenhagen.”

The more than 450 NGO members of the global Climate Action Network awarded Australia the "Fossil of the Day" prize for:

“Australia was awarded First Place, for announcing its target which puts unreasonable conditions on other countries. Australia will adopt an inadequate 24% target by 2020 with the following and particularly obnoxious provisos that include, all countries (including developing countries) contribute finance and that developing countries slow growth, take a 20%  (against BAU) reduction by 2020 and nominate a peaking year for their emissions. It is worth noting that Australia’s emissions have yet to peak and they are yet to commit any additional money to adaptation.”

Fossil of the Day Award

More than 450 non-government organisations from around the world have voted in favour of Australia receiving a "Fossil of the Day" award at the United Nation’s climate change talks in Bonn, Germany. Photo: The Wilderness Society collection.

Australia was awarded First Place, for announcing its target which puts unreasonable conditions on other countries. Australia will adopt an inadequate 24% target by 2020 with the following and particularly obnoxious provisos that include, all countries (including developing countries) contribute finance and that developing countries slow growth, take a 20%  (against BAU) reduction by 2020 and nominate a peaking year for their emissions. It is worth noting that Australia’s emissions have yet to peak and they are yet to commit any additional money to adaptation.

The Second Prize Fossil went to Canada. Sure Canada mentioned common but differentiated responsibility in its LCA submissions, but then went on to completely ignore the principle by suggesting that “all Parties” should undertake all actions under the Bali Action Plan, including 2020 reduction targets. Is it because Canada thinks it’s a developing country or because it thinks it’s high time that Malawi pulls up its socks?

The Third Prize was awarded to Iceland, for announcing its 2020 reduction target to be a mere 15% reduction below 1990 levels, which is far below the 25-40% range agreed in Bali, and certainly very very unhelpful to achieve reductions in rich countries of more than 40%, which is what is urgently needed.

Iceland argued this morning in the LCA session that their poor -15% target was quite in order because it constitutes a -25% reduction below thei Kyoto target (which is +10%), which Iceland finds comparable to other countries' potential efforts. We recognise that Iceland is a cold country, and some government officials might crave for warmer summers. But we wonder if the country is committed to avoid the worst scenarios of climate change.

The Wilderness Society is attending the international climate change negotiations that are being held in Bonn, Germany in June to ensure that the next climate deal promotes a safe climate and the protection of the world's biodiverse natural forests. Learn more >>