Download Dealing with Climate Change

Climate Change:
What Role for Parliamentarians?
Dr Jan Wright
Parliamentary Commissioner for
the Environment
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Outline
1. The Problem
2. Fairness: Who is responsible?
3. Physical Impact of climate change in
NZ, Australia, and the Pacific islands
4. International Organisations
5. What Parliamentarians can do
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greenhouse
gases trap heat
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Greenhouse Earth in Action
CO2 concentration
temperature
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Fairness: Who is responsible?
Developed countries caused the problem
World Resources Institute. 2000.
1950-1999: Historic cumulative carbon emissions, as a percentage of global
output by nation
…but small island countries are on the
frontline of climate change impacts
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Physical Impacts: Australia and NZ
More heat waves
More bushfires
Temperature change
1980-1999 versus 2080-2099
…..and sea level rise
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Physical Impacts: Australia and NZ
More floods
Rainfall change
1980-1999 versus 2080-2099
Water supply
issues
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More droughts
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
Water shortages and drought
More floods
Rainfall change
1980-1999 versus 2080-2099
…and also
• increased risk of tropical cyclones
• ocean acidification, coral bleaching
• changing fish migration
• biodiversity loss
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Pacific Islands are particularly vulnerable
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
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International Organisations
IPCC, science assessment
Reports 1990, 1995, 2001, 2007.
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.
United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (1994, 192 countries)
• what can be done to reduce global warming
• how to cope with temperature increases
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
Kyoto Protocol (1997, 184 countries)
far the largest, broadest, and most international scientific assessment – and
–“by
commitment
to reduce
emissions
2008-2012
consensus
- in history. “ Highly
Authoritative Commentator,
DomPost
2008
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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What NZ and Australia are doing
• Domestically
– greenhouse gas emissions reduction target
– energy efficiency improvements etc
• In support of Pacific Island countries
Australia
New Zealand
• Much expertise
• Supports various programmes
• Aims to “secure a good outcome for
Pacific Island Countries” at Copenhagen
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Practical Suggestions
• Be informed about the reality and help
people understand
• Provide tools to cope
• Support policies to make a difference
• Work together, build cooperation and
partnerships
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