1988-89 cabinet paper 6548

8/10/2019 1988-89 cabinet paper 6548

1/15

CABINET IN CONFIDENCE

4

opy

No

Submission

6548

C A B I N E T M I N U T E

Canberra,

5

Ju ly 1989

No. 12773

In t e rna t i ona l

Environmental

Trea t i e s

Aust ra l ian Approach

The Cabinet agreed t h a t

: -

a)

Aust ra l ia

t ake an

ac t ive ro le

in : -

i ) s t rengthening ex i s t i ng

i n t e rna t iona l

l ega l

ins t ruments ,

notably

the

Montreal

Protocol

on

Substances

tha t

Deplete

the

Ozone Layer; and

i i ) developing

a new

dra f t

framework

convent ion with in an

appropr ia te

forum,

with

the im of f ac i l i t a t i ng the

adopt ion

o f

i n t e rna t i ona l and reg iona l

measures

connected

with

c l ima te

change;

(b) a comprehensive approach i s needed

to

developing

measures on

c l imate

change, inc luding

ac t i on

to

reduce the emiss ion o f a l l greenhouse gases , to

improve

the

e f fec t i veness of

s inks

and to

implement

adapta t ion

s t ra teg ie s ; and

.

/2

This document

is

the property of the Australian Government

and is

not

to be

copied or reproduced


[1]

8/10/2019 1988-89 cabinet paper 6548

2/15


2.

No.

12773 Contd)

2 .

3.

c ) the development o f appropria te i n t e rna t iona l

funding and

technology

t r a n s f e r

arrangements

be

explored to a s s i s t in

development

and

implementation o f the

comprehensive

approach

re fe r red to

in

sub-paragraph

b) above; and

d) Aust ra l ia of fe r to

hos t

ne go t i a ti ng s e s s ion

for the development o f

the d ra f t

framework

a )

cl imate convention

r e fe r red to

in

sub-paragraph

a ) ii .

The Cabinet

noted

: -

t ha t the

new

convent ion r e fe r red t o

in

sub-paragraph

a )

above i s l i k e ly

to

requi re the

adopt ion o f

new

l ega l pr i nc i p l e s ; and

b) t ha t Cabinet cons ide ra t ion should precede any

support by Aus t ra l i a in i n t e rna t iona l

negot ia t ions o f

new

l ega l

pr inc ip l e s .

The

Cabinet

a l so agreed tha t Aust ra l i a t ake

an

ac t ive ro l e

in the

ne go t i a t i ons

being

convened

by the

Uni ted

Nat ions Environment

Program

on

proposed convention fo r the

pro t ec t i on of b io logica l d ive rs i ty .

Secre ta ry to Cabinet

This document is the property

of the

ustralian Government and is not to be copied

or reproduced

CABIN ET 1 N CON

Fl

DENCE

[2]

8/10/2019 1988-89 cabinet paper 6548

3/15

Title

M inister

Purpose/Issues

Sensitivity

Criticism

Legislation

involved

ency:

1... tical/significant

dates

) lsultation:

Ministers/Depts

consulted

Is there

agreement?

Timing handling of

announcement

Cost

CABINET IN C

0 N l

EN

CE

OR

C BINET

Submission No 6

54

8

Copy No. 43

INTERNATIONAL

E ~ V I R O ~ ~ N T L TREATIES : AUSTRALIAN APPROACH

Senator the Hon Gareth Evans QC, Minister

for

Foreign

Affairs and Trade, the Hon John Kerin, Minister for Primary

Industr ies and Energy and Senator

the

Hon Graham

Richardson, Minister for the Arts, Sport, the Environment,

Tourism and Terr i tor ies .

The

submission

outl ines the main issues arising from

proposals to

draw up

international

conventions on climate

change

and bio-diversi ty and recommends

the approach

s t ra l ian

representat ives

should

adopt.

binet

Minute No 12416 confirmed the Government s concern

~ - o

deal posi t ively with

greenhouse

issues, and Cabinet

inute No 12288 endorsed a strengthened, bet ter

coordinated Austral ian response to the developing

international

debate on environmental issues.

Both the

public

generally, and environment and industry

groups

will

cr i t i c i se any fa i lure

to

act

global ly on

climate change and bio-diversi ty issues

to

the detriment of

Austral ia s in teres t s

None

a t

this stage.

Australia wil l

need

to

have

a

broad

posit ion on climate

change

a t least by

the 44th

session

of

UNGA (September,

1989), and a

substant ive

posit ion on several

of

the

major

issues by

the time of the

Hague

M i n i ~ t e r i a l Conference in

November

1989. Negotiations

for

conventions

on

climate

change and

on bio-diversi ty

wil l commence in

early 1990.

Departments of the Prime Ministei and

Cabinet;

Attorney-General s; Industry, Technology and Commerce;

Treasury; Finance;

Administrative

Services; Community

Services and Health.

No (See comments

a t

A t t a c r ~ e n t C

To

be

included

in the Prime Minister s

statement on

the

environment

in

July

89

90

90

91

91

Fin Yr ( Fin

Yr

( ) Fin Yr (

92

The two Conventions are

unlikely to be ready for adoption

before 1992.

I t

is not possible to

predict

whether

they

will

have

funding

implications.

This document

is the

property o

the ustral ian Government and is not to be copied or reproduced


[3]

8/10/2019 1988-89 cabinet paper 6548

4/15


CLIMATE

CHANGE

: BACKGROUND

The extent and

dis t r ibut ion of

greenhouse-induced

warming is not yet known. I t is

widely agreed that

some

global warming

is

taking

place and will

continue

as a

resul t

of

the

greenhouse

effec t .

In developing

policy

responses to

climate

change

i t is important

to

allow

for

the

long lead times

involved in controll ing l ikely

greenhouse effects .

The

preferred

approach is

to

take

actions now that wil l help to achieve

both

greenhouse and

other policy

goals.

2. Strategy elements

already

approvec

by

Cabinet

include

active

involvement

in

and

support

for

.

the

WMO UNEP

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC) and the

development of

framework

conventions

on

the

protection

of

the atmosphere

and on

climate

change,

with indivicual

protocols to follow on

specif ic issues as

sc ient i f ic

knowledge

and

public opinion permit. All governments have

been invited

to submit

comments to Working Group

I I I

of

the

IPCC

Response

Strategies) on

the

scope for strengthening

exist ing

instruments,

whether

a new

framework

convention

is

required

on

climate

. change, and

i f

so, what elements

i t

might

include.

CLUIATE CHANGE ISSUES

3. Existing international

environmental

agreements,

apart

from those dealing with ozone depleting substances, only

incidental ly

address

greenhouse

issues.

They do

not

together address the

large

number of diverse and

in ter re la ted

act ivi t ies relevant to

global climate change

and

i t s

effects .

Others

are

of l imitec

geographical

scope.

The

review of

the Montreal Protocol on

Substances that

Deplete the Ozone Layer to el iminate the

procuction

and

use

of CFCs

and

halons by the year

2000

should be expedited.

These are par t icular ly

active greenhouse gases

which are

s t i l l increasing rapidly and

are

capable of being

controlled.


[4]

8/10/2019 1988-89 cabinet paper 6548

5/15

3

C BINETIN

CONFIDENCE

4.

Austral ia has already

supported

UN

General

Assembly

resolut ion

43/53, the Hague Declaration on Protect ion of

the

Atmopshere of

11

March

1989 and a

United

Nations

Environment Program

UNEP)

Governing Council

Decision

adopted on 24 May 1989,

a l l

of which support the

development

of

a new internat ional

convention

on

climate

change. Aust ra l ia s

se l f in teres t

coulc be

comprowisec

by

an

uncontrolled random process

of legal and

other

responses

to

climate

change.

Austral ia

should

play

an

active role

in

global effor t s to elaborate

a

comprehensive

convention

on

climate change

to ensure tha t i t is based

on

sound

environmental

and

economic principles and

meets

Aust ra l ia s

in teres ts .

5. ~

are a large exporter of energy (energy

exports

represented 17

percent

of

exports

in 1987-88);

foss i l

fuel

based energy

is

a major source of global greenhouse

emissions (around 50

percent)

and energy-based ac t iv i t ies

wil l be a major area of

adaptation

to global warming.

Austral ia is a large exporter of agricul tural commodities.

Agricul tural production is

not

only

an important source of

greenhouse

emissions,

but

wil l

be i t s e l f

signif icant ly

affected

by

greenhouse impacts

(methane in part icular)

Agriculture

represented 38 percent of exports

in

1987-88.

Aust ra l ia s

fragi le agricul tural

environment is

par t icular ly vulnerable to soi l degradation, ra in fa l l

var iab i l i ty and

other cl imate-relatec factors . The urban

set t lement pattern (over

80 percent

of

the

population

i s

concentrated in

the south

east

corner

of the country)

i s

vulnerable to the

impacts

of

climate

change.

Aust ra l ia s

long

coast l ine

and i t s disproport ionately great

share

of

the

world s

biological diversi ty make i t uniquely sensi t ive

to the impacts of climate change. Unless these issues are

addressed

urgently

and effect ively, any compensating

gains

for

Australia

from climate changes wil l not be real ised.

There

are

also l ikely

to

be impacts for Austral ia from

problems

aris ing

from climate change in

the

region,

par t icular ly in re la t ion to the

small i s land countr ies .


[5]

8/10/2019 1988-89 cabinet paper 6548

6/15

4.

CABINET I

CONFIDENCE

6. A

framework convention

is

essent ia l in

order to enable

an integrated approach to these issues

and those set out

below.

But i t

should be developed

and implemented

in

conjunct ion with

other

appropriate

responses to cl imate

change.

These include

purely domestic act ion for

which

appropriate principles

(eg

to deal with pol lut ion from

diverse sources) should be developed,

the

vesting

in

exist ing internat ional

organisat ions of new

responsib i l i t ies and powers

and

other in ternat ional

act ion

with par t icular

emphasis on Au stra l ia s

regional in te res ts .

s

implementation of a

framework convention will

touch upon

the Sta tes and

Terr i tor ies responsib i l i t ies ,

there is

a

need for close and ongoing consultat ion with the i r

Governments.

7. Elements for inclusion in

a

framework convention

wil l

most l ike ly include general obl igat ions and

princ iples ,

cooperation, response

mechanisms,

monitoring, l i ab i l i t y and

compensation, and ins t i tu t ional arrangements.

These

elements are fur ther elaborated in Attachment A Ministers

wil l need

to

be approached

again

for endorsement of

speci f ic

proposals

once

the

negotiat ing

process

has

commenced

8. There is

general

agreement

tha t

any

convention will

have to d d r ~ s s a l l aspects

of the

climate change i ssue,

namely,

l imits

on

emissions, improving

the

effect iveness of

sinks

( ie .

natural methods of absorbing

or

destroying

greenhouse

emissions) and the necessi ty

of

adapting

to the

impacts

of

climate

change.

Specifical ly,

governments

wil l

need

to

consider

l imi ts on

a l l greenhouse gas

emissions,

the

impact

of deforesta t ion, reaffores ta t ion and other

human ac t iv i t i es

on s inks , and the

scope

for developing

adaptat ion pol ic ies

in

regard

to matters

such

as

coastal

zone

management,

agriculture , urban set t lement,

public

heal th and

protect ion

of

unmanaged resources.

In ceveloping

crea t ive approaches to these matters a fu l l range of

implementation

mechanisms

wil l

need

to

be

considered,


[6]

8/10/2019 1988-89 cabinet paper 6548

7/15

5


including

legal measures economic measures funding

t ransfers technology t ransfers public education

and

sc ien t i f i c

and

research interchanges.

9.

The two key issues for Austral ia

are

the need for

posit ive

action and the

need

to develop funding mechanisms

to fac i l i t a te

structural change in

countries

disadvantaged

by

an

obl igat ion to implement policy responses.

With regard

to the

former

we need to

address

posi t ive ly the

issue of

set t ing

objectives for the

reduction or elimination

of

greenhouse

emissions.

On

the

question

of

l i ab i l i ty

we

wil l

need to

ensure

tha t

Austra l ia could only

be

accountable for

emissions

di rec t ly

ar is ing from i t s own resource use and

not for

emissions

arising

from

the

use

by

other countries

of resources

exported

from

Australia .

With regard to

compensation

Australia

must be will ing

to

accept the need

for f inancial

and

technological t ransfers to occur

par t icular ly i f developing countries are

going

to respond

posi t ive ly to

the need for a convention. The cr i t i ca l role

of these

types

of

t ransfers has been made

clear

in the

negotiat ion of international instruments on ozone depleting

substances

where

developing

countries are

s t i l l

re luctant

to become act ive

par t ic ipants

without outside help.

BIO DIVERSITY : B CKGROUND ND ISSUES

10.

The UNEP Governing Council in

May

1989

agreed that

proposals for a convention on the protect ion of

biological

diversi ty should be

progressed

urgently. Austral ia has a

disproport ionately

high

biological

diversi ty

and

has

consistent ly supported

th i s

in i t i a t ive .

Detai ls are

contained in Attachment B.


[7]

8/10/2019 1988-89 cabinet paper 6548

8/15

6.

C BINETIN ONFIDEN E

RECOMMEND TIONS

11.

We

recommend

that

C a ~ i n e t

(a) Agree that Australia

take

an active role in:

(i) strengthening existing

international

legal

instruments,

notably

the Montreal

Protocol

on

Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer; and

i i ) developing a new draf t framework convention,

preferably

for considerat ion a t the proposed

UN

Conference

on

the

Environment

and Development in

1992, with the

aim

of faci l i ta t ing the adoption

of international and regional measures connected

with climate change;

(b)

Endorse a comprehensive approach to developing

measures on climate change, inclucing the need for

action

to

reduce

the emission of a l l greenhouse gases,

to improve the

effectiveness

of

sinks and

to

implement

adaptation

strategies;

(c) Endorse the need to

explore

the development

of

a ~ ~ r o p r i a t e

international

funding and technology

t ransfer arrangements

to ass is t in

development

and

implementation

of

the comprehensive

approach referred

to in sub-paragraph (b);

(d)

Note that the new convention referred

to

in

sub-paragraph a) i i ) above may require

the

adoption

of new legal principles,

in

which event a further

submission would

need

to be brought forward for

Cabinet 's

considerat ion;

and

(e)

Agree

that Austra l ia

take

an

active role in

the

negotiat ions being convened by the United Nations

Environment

Progam

on

a proposed convention for the

protection of biological diversi ty.

G RETH EV NS

3

July

989

JOHN

KERIN

3

July

989

GR H M

R I f ~ R D S O N

3

July

989

C BINET IN ONFIDEN E

[8]

8/10/2019 1988-89 cabinet paper 6548

9/15

1 CABINET IN CONFIDENC

TT CHMENT

ELEMENTS FOR INCLUSION IN FR MEWORK O ~ ~ E N T I O N ON

CLitvi TE CH NGE

The fundamental legal obl igat ion would be for s ta tes

par t ies to

take

a l l

appropriate

measures to l imi t ,

gradually reduce and control any atmospheric interference

which in

an aggregate

sense endangers

human

l i f e or

the

ear th s capacity to sustain l i f e processes,

arising

from

human

ac t iv i t i es under the i r jur i sd ic t ion or control , and

take

a l l necessary

action to acapt to

the

impacts of

cl imate

change.

Development wil l need to

be

pursued

in

a

manner

which

is

not l ike ly

to

affec t s ignif icant ly the

ea r th s

climate.

States

wil l need

to act local ly

in

accordance

with

global environmental principles and

pr ior i t ies .

2.

The

convention

should require

cooperat ion among

the

par t i e s on

research,

exchanges

of information, monitoring

and harmonization of pol ic ies ,

and

the t ransmission of

information

to

non-part ies. I t may

also

fos ter the

development

of a

mechanism for

providing prior

notice

and

environmental

impact assessment

of

planned ac t iv i t i es .

3. The convention should re f lec t a comprehensive approach

to climate change and i t s

impacts

and the broadest

possib le

range of res

p

onse and

monitoring mechanisms.

There should

be

a requirement

on par t ies to the convention

to

submit

nat ional

reports

to

an

in ternat ional

bocy which

would

have

the

role

of monitoring steps

taken by par t ies to

the

convention

to

meet the i r

obl igat ions.

There should also be

recognition

of

the need for different approaches

and time

frames for different categories of countries according to

the i r

re la t ive

stage

of

development.

4. I t i s essent ia l tha t emphasis be placed upon the

l imi ta t ion

of

ac t iv i t i es

which have

or

are

l ike ly

to

have

an

adverse

impact on the world s cl imate, and upon


[9]

8/10/2019 1988-89 cabinet paper 6548

10/15

s

C BINET IN

CON

F

IDENCE

TT CHMENT

A

adaptat ion

stra tegies.

There

may also

be

a

place for State

l i ab i l i t

y

and com

p

ensation principles for ext ra - te r r i tor ia l

damage

as

an

adjunct to prevention and adaptation.

Exist ing principles wil l be of

some

use,

but

will

be

l imited

by

dif f icu l t ies in establ ishing causation.

New

and

innovative principles on l i ab i l i ty and global burden

sharing may be required. Technological

and financial

assis tance,

the establishment of

internat ional

compensation

funds

and

insurance schemes should a l l be

examined

as

potent ia l parts

of

a compensation

regime. Emphasis

should

also

be placed

upon

prior

not ice

requirements, procedures

for

the

effect ive

settlement

of

disputes and duties to

ass i s t with

response action to

meet

urgent

si tuat ions.

5.

Au stral ia s strong preference is to

maximize

the use

of exist ing

internat ional

ins t i tu t ions in coordinating,

monitoring and implementing new

environmental

in i t ia t ives .

To

tha t extent

the

convention

should go

no further than

designating competent State authori t ies and

exist ing

internat ional ins t i tu t ions to

oversee implementation of the

convention, monitor

ac t iv i t ies and progress

on

control

measures,

and

fac i l i t a te

consultat ions

and notif icat ion.

The issue of

compulsory

third

party set t lement of disputes

(ICJ

and arbi t ra t ion should also be addressed.

C BINET

IN

CONFIDENCE

[10]

8/10/2019 1988-89 cabinet paper 6548

11/15

9. CABINET IN CONFIDENCE

ATTACHMENT B

BIOLOGICAL

DIVERSITY

CONVENTION

Extinction and threatened

ext inct ion of species

of

f lora

ad

fauna is a problem of increasing urgency

globally.

Experts of the United Nations Environment

Program UNEP)

have reported that

100

species are

being

los t every day

(and looming climate effects wil l exacerbate the

s i tuat ion) . A

quarter

of the

ear th s

5

to

30 mill ion

plants ,

animals and

microorganisms

are

considered to

be

a t

serious r isk of extinction

within

20 to

30 years.

Rainforests

which

contain

an

enormously varied

biota

are a

good

example of

ecosystems

where part icular

damage

is

occurring.

2. There has been increasing at tent ion

internationally

to

the development

of

a convention with a comprehensive

scope

to

adcress

the conservation of biological diversi ty. The

International Union of Conservation of Nature

and

Natural

Resources IUCN) has been active

in

promoting this

proposal,

as

have

several Austral ian

conservation

groups.

3. There are already several international agreements of

a multi lateral , regional or bi la te ra l

character

which

address

parts of the issue (for example wetlands, migratory

birds and animals, whales). UNEP

has

ident i f ied the need

for a comprehensive

umbrella convention

onbiological

divers i ty .

4. The

draf t proposals

which have

been

put forward by

IUCN

are

in terms of:

(a) protection of

habi ta ts

within the framework of a

country s own plans for lane-use and species

protection;

CABINET IN CONFIDE

E

[11]

8/10/2019 1988-89 cabinet paper 6548

12/15

10


ATTACHMEr-71

b)

coordination

of exist ing conservation t rea t ies ;

c)

action by

part ies

to minimize the

threat to biological

diversi ty

from the major causes;

d) performance of

surveys

and inventories of biological

resources; and

e) compilation of

a

world l i s t of

outstanding

s i tes .

5.

I t is not clear to what

extent

the

IUCN proposals

will

se t

the

agenda

for

the

proposed

convention

which

UNEP has

agreed should be developed.

6. The

UNEP

Governing Council in

May

1989 agreed

that

the

convention should be progressed urgently.

7. Austral ian conservation groups inclucing

the

Austral ian

Conservation Foundation)

have shown a

strong

in teres t

in

the

development

of

the convention.

They

have

argued tha t Austral ia

play an

act ive

par t including

Austral ia perhaps

hosting a negotiat ing

session.

8. Involvement of Austral ia in negotiat ion of

the

proposec convention would

complement

various actions by the

Government to conserve our national heri tage of plants and

animals.

In

l ight of

the unique

and diverse biological

her i tage

of

Austral ia ,

and

our

own

problems

to

this

point

with

extinct ion of

species and conservation of rare and

endangered

species, i t

is

ful ly appropriate tha t Austral ia

should

take an act ive par t in these t reaty

negotiations.

I t

wil l also be necessary that Austral ia i s in a posi t ion to

influence

the course of

the

negotiat ions

to see that

i t s

shape and content are consis tent

with

our object ives and

needs.


[12]

8/10/2019 1988-89 cabinet paper 6548

13/15

11.


TT CHMENT

C

CONSGLT TION

The

following

are

the fu l l

comments from

the

Departments

consulted:

De partment of the Prime Minister

and

Cabinet

2.

The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet supports

the

recommendations.

I t notes,

however, that

as

Au stral ia s

approach to negotiat ions on

a climate

change

convention i s

developed, i t wil l be

important

to

ensure that the

convention

encourages effective

and

cost eff ic ient policy

responses.

I t

i s

vi ta l that the

many

sources of

greenhouse

gases and the range of avai lable

policy

responses

be kept

in

mind. I t also notes that as

a major world

exporter of

coal

and

agr icul tura l products,

the

Austral ian economy

could

be par t icular ly

vulnerable to precipi ta te c t ~ o n

taken to

l imi t

emissions. But as

a

country w ~ i c h

is

c lass i f ied

as

developed, we would undoubtedly face

very

great

di f f icu l ty

in

persuading

other

countries

to accept

a

case for Austral ia receiving special f inancial or other

assistance.

De partment of Community Services

and

Realth

3. While supporting

the

Submission,

the

Department

of

Community Services

and Health believes

that

paragraph

should

be

amended

to also

include

reference to

the

impact

on

health of

climatic change

as

well

as the other

issues

specified in that paragraph.

[Paragraph

of

the

Submission

has been amended, accordingly].

The Treasury

4. Treasury agrees to the approach

recommended in

the

Submission.

Australian

part ic ipat ion

in

development

of

a

framework

convention

can

contribute to ensuring that

a


[13]

8/10/2019 1988-89 cabinet paper 6548

14/15

2


TT CHMENT

convention wil l be effect ive, will adequately address

the

causes

of

the environmental problem in l ine with the

goal

of sustainable development and

will take account

of

Austral ian in teres ts . Treasury notes tha t

the

approach

does

not involve

a

commitment to specif ic measures a t

th i s

stage.

Attorney-General s

Department

5.

Attorney-General s Department

agrees that Austral ia

should take an act ive

role

in development of a new

Framework Convention on

Climate Change.

This

wil l

require

adoption of new legal

principles

and

approaches.

I f

Austral ia

is to

take

an act ive par t om

the development

of

principles a t

an

early stage (for example in legal

work,

for which Austral ia has pressed, in the IP

Working

Group

on

response

st rategy) t should be in a posi t ion to make

substantive proposals. I t should

not

wait .for negotiat ions

on a new Convention to

actual ly

begin as the process of

internat ional

discussions leading

to such

negotiat ions

may

by

that

time

have had

a

signif icant

impact on

thei r

ul t imate direct ion.

6.

Attorney-General s considers that Cabinet should

endorse

the

need for development of

new

legal principles,

in

the same way

as i t is

asked

to endorse

a

comprehensive

approach to climate change measures (recommendation (b)) .

The proposed legal

principles

should ref lec t and recognize

the

need

to

focus

not

on

sovereignty

over resources

but

on

the

well

being

of human beings throughout

the

world. I f

development of such

principles requires

Cabinet approval

(see recommendation (d)) , officers should be tasked now

to

produce a Submission seeking

Cabinet approval of

the

relevant principles .

7. The Attorney-General s

Department

does not support the

suggestion

in

recommendation

a) i i )

tha t

consideration

of

a new Framework Convention should necessar i ly

occur

a t

the

1992 conference. I t would be

preferable for

negotiat ions

on


[14]

8/10/2019 1988-89 cabinet paper 6548

15/15


TT CHMENT

C

th is

Convention to

occur

in

a

special

negotiating forum

outside

the largely

pol i t i c l forum of

the

1992 Conference

and to

commence

before

th t

date.

Department of Finance

8. The Department of

Finance has no p r t i cu l r

comments

for

inclusion in th is Submission.

Department

of

Administrat ive

Services

9. The Department of Administrat ive Services notes th t

t

the recent

second session of

the ~ ~ 0 U N E P

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), there

appears to

be

general agreement th t t

would be

premature

to

in i t i t e formal negotiat ions on

a framework

convention

on climate t

l e s t

unt i l

the

Panel s f i r s t assessment

repor t in September 9 9

D S stresses th t

the sc ien t i f i c

evidence for climate change i s s t i l l equivocal and urges

th t

Austral ia

aim

to

ensure

th t

the

in ternat ional

legal

developments

not

be allowed to

move

too f r

ahead

of

the

sc ien t i f i c

understanding. We

support the general approach

se t

out

in the submission and, through the Bureau of

Meteorology and i t s

l inks

with the World Heteorologic..al

Organizat ion, wil l aim

to

provide

uthor i t t ive

up-to-date

sc ien t i f i c advice as

the development of the legal

principles

proceeds.

De

partment of Incus t ry Technology

and

Commerce

10. The Department of Industry, Technology

and

Commerce

has no

objections

to the proposals in Attachment but

would

note

th t any

future

funding implications would

need

to be considered in the context

of

the Government s overal l

pr io r i t i e s

[15]

Documents

1988-89 cabinet paper 6548