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Climate Change: What Role for
Parliamentarians?Dr Jan Wright
Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment
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Outline
1. The Problem2. Fairness: Who is responsible?3. Physical Impact of climate change
in NZ, Australia, and the Pacific islands
4. International Organisations5. What Parliamentarians can do
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Fairness: Who is responsible?Developed countries caused the
problem
…but small island countries are on the frontline of climate change impacts
1950-1999: Historic cumulative carbon emissions, as a percentage of global output by nation
World Resources Institute. 2000.
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Physical Impacts: Australia and NZ
Temperature change 1980-1999 versus 2080-2099
More heat waves
…..and sea level rise
More bushfires
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Physical Impacts: Australia and NZ
Rainfall change 1980-1999 versus 2080-2099
More droughts
More floods
Water supply issues
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Physical Impacts: Pacific Islands
• Land loss • Coastal erosion• Increased damage from storm surges • Salt water contamination of fresh water and soils
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Physical Impacts: Pacific Islands
Rainfall change 1980-1999 versus 2080-2099
Water shortages and drought
More floods
• increased risk of tropical cyclones• ocean acidification, coral bleaching• changing fish migration• biodiversity loss
…and also
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because:
• surrounded by large expanses of ocean
• limited natural resources
• proneness to natural disasters
• extremely open economies
• rapidly increasing populations and urbanisation
• poorly developed infrastructure
• and limited funds, human resources and skills
Entire cultures at risk
Pacific Islands are particularly vulnerable
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International Organisations
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1994, 192 countries)• what can be done to reduce global warming • how to cope with temperature increases
to assess on a comprehensive, objective, open and transparent basis the latest scientific, technical and socio-economic literature produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of the risk of human-induced climate change, its observed and projected impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation.
The 2007 IPCC report • 2,500 + scientific expert reviewers• 800+ contributing authors• 450+ lead authors from • 130+ different countries• 6 years of work • 4 volumes
“by far the largest, broadest, and most international scientific assessment – and consensus - in history. “ Highly Authoritative Commentator, DomPost 2008
IPCC, science assessmentReports 1990, 1995, 2001, 2007.
Kyoto Protocol (1997, 184 countries)– commitment to reduce emissions 2008-2012
Copenhagen (Dec 2009)The next agreement
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Adaptation Programs for Pacific Island States
- Pacific Island Framework for Action on Climate Change
- Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change
- National Adaptation Plan of Action (NAPAs) for Least Developed Countries
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• Domestically– greenhouse gas emissions reduction target– energy efficiency improvements etc
• In support of Pacific Island countries
What NZ and Australia are doing
Australia New Zealand
• Much expertise• Supports various programmes• Aims to “secure a good outcome for Pacific Island Countries” at Copenhagen