CCspeech_08

HE Ambassador Peter Rowe, speech to Korea Green Forum
Thursday 20 March, 2008

Distinguished guests and friends of the 136 Environmental Forum and the Korea Green Foundation, it is my pleasure to be invited to address you today on a topic that is of importance to all of us.

Climate change is without doubt one of the great challenges facing the world today. It is an international problem that has far-reaching consequences and serious impacts on our quality and way of life. The science is now irrefutable. Temperatures are increasing, faster than first predicted. Rising sea levels threaten to encroach on small island states and coastal communities. We are seeing more frequent unpredictable extreme weather events, with the potential to impact on key sectors, such as agriculture.

As I’m sure you would agree, climate change is not just an environmental issue. The consequences of climate change will have an impact on all countries. It is no longer a question of choosing between economic development and protecting the environment. Sustainable economic growth, taking into account environmental impacts, will need to be a key focus of mitigating and adapting to climate change.

While climate change is a formidable challenge, it is not an insurmountable one. But it is a global responsibility. Unilateral or domestic action alone to reduce emissions or energy consumption will not be effective without broad international cooperation.

Kyoto Protocol
The first official act of Australia’s new government, elected in November of last year, was to ratify the Kyoto Protocol of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd also appointed a Minister for Climate Change, responsible for coordinating Australia’s international and domestic action on addressing this key priority.

At the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations in Bali, Australia helped forge an agreement launching the two year negotiations on a post-2012 outcome that will see all countries contribute towards fighting climate change. Australia looks forward to constructive engagement in these negotiations, and to an outcome that is environmentally and economically effective. An outcome that sees binding emission reduction targets for developed countries and specific commitments to action by developing countries.
Australia’s international approach to climate change recognises the differing responsibilities of developed and developing countries and their capacities to act. That is why we are working with key partners on the technology needed to reduce emissions, including in partnership with Korea through the APP and supporting adaptation efforts for our vulnerable neighbours.

By ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, Australia is now a full partner in the post-2012 negotiations on targets and timeframes for the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. Australia is committed to meeting its first commitment period Kyoto target of 108 per cent, and will take on a target for a second Kyoto commitment period.

Climate-change policy
Australia’s climate-change policy is built on three pillars: helping to shape a global solution, which I have already addressed, reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, and adapting to climate change.

Reducing Greenhouse-Gas Emissions
To mitigate climate change, we all need to reduce our greenhouse-gas emissions. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has committed Australia to a long-term emissions reductions target of 60 per cent of 2000 levels by 2050, with a medium-term target to be announced later this year.

Of course, this is not as simple as it sounds. It is a delicate and complicated balance between economic development and prosperity, and environmental imperatives. Over the past number of years countries like Australia and Korea have participated in voluntary efforts to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions: investing in the development of low-emissions technologies, cleaner energy, renewable energy, changing land management practices and encouraging energy efficiency in industry. These are all worthwhile and necessary activities that must continue.

The backbone of Australia’s action to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions will be a cap-and-trade system of emissions trading. This system will start in 2010. In preparation, businesses in Australia now are required by law to monitor and report their energy use and greenhouse-gas emissions. The Australian Government will ensure that the emissions trading scheme is economically responsible, fair, and internationally consistent. The scheme will be designed to place Australia on a low emissions path in a way that best manages the economic costs of transition and provides incentives to develop and invest in low-emissions technologies, while also addressing the competitive challenges facing our emission-intensive trade-exposed industries. It will have maximum practical coverage of greenhouse gas emissions and industry sectors and will be designed to link with other countries’ schemes.
This is no small task. The introduction of emissions trading in Australia will constitute the most significant economic and structural reform we have undertaken since our liberalisation of trade in the 1980s. It will spur progress in production techniques, capital investment, research and development. And it will result in challenges for some industries, while creating significant opportunities for existing and new industries.

Renewable and Clean Energy
The second key element to reducing greenhouse-gases is discovering, developing and exploiting cleaner energy sources. This is particularly important for a country like Korea, which relies entirely on imported energy. Australia has set a 20 per cent renewable energy target for 2020 and has plans to develop further renewable energy technologies and clean, low-emission coal.

The world-wide increasing demand for clean energy sources will create significant opportunities for those countries who can meet that demand. Australia is a major supplier of liquefied natural gas, a recognised low-emission energy source, and we are at the forefront of research and development for wind, solar and geothermal power along with clean-coal technologies.

Similarly, Korea is in a very good position, with its proven advanced technological capabilities and expertise in energy and engineering research and innovation. Companies that develop technology to reduce their emissions and use energy more efficiently will be in high demand, especially if they reduce operating costs and penalties through emissions trading schemes. This is a growing industry which will become more and more significant and will be long-lived. In Australia, we already see the consumer trend towards more environmentally-friendly, low-emission goods: hybrid cars, solar panels, rainwater tanks.

International Cooperation
We look forward to continued cooperation and sharing of ideas with Korea in international climate change forums. In addition to the UN Framework on Climate Change Convention, we share the table with Korea at the US Major Economies Meeting process, APEC, and through collaboration on projects with the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, the APP.

The APP complements the Kyoto Protocol and engages important countries in our region in the development and deployment of clean technologies. We shall continue to work with Korea and other APP partner countries to carry out relevant and effective development of new and proven technologies for renewable energy, reducing emissions from fossil fuels, and improving energy efficiency. We welcome Korea’s participation at the joint meeting of the APP’s Cleaner Fossil Energy and Power Generation Taskforces to take place in Melbourne at the end of this month.

As I mentioned at the beginning of our talk, adaptation to climate change will be difficult, including for coastal populations like those in Australia and Korea. We must prepare ourselves for impacts of climate change on the economy, human amenity and our environment. Climate change is clearly a top international priority that will require innovation, collaboration and collective action. Australia and Korea are clearly both well-positioned to meet this challenge together.

We look forward to continuing our cooperation with Korea on this important issue of great urgency, towards enhanced action on an international, national, community and individual scale. It is a great pleasure and honour for me to have had the opportunity to speak to you today, and to share with you the thinking of the Australian Government on this very important matter.