Author: WWF-Australia Latest News

New commitments on climate finance at Copenhagen have broken the negotiating deadlock and opened the way for real negotiations, and Australia must now step up and commit to a 25 per cent emissions reduction target.

"Australia must make the last day of climate change talks one of ambition and action," said WWF-Australia’s Climate Change Policy Manager Kellie Caught.

"We are seeing progress in key areas like financing and mitigation targets but Australia must make one last big push if an effective deal is going to be delivered."

The announcement by US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton that the United States would contribute to US$100 billion in finance for developing countries has breathed new life into the Copenhagen climate negotiations. Australia must now step up, commit to contributing its fair share and push the ambition higher.

WWF has estimated that developing countries will need US$160 billion of new public funded assistance per year between 2013 and 2017. If Australia committed to its fair share, which is US$3.5 billion, it could encourage other countries to commit more funding.

"If the renewed finance discussion also leads to willingness for more ambition on emissions reductions targets, there could still be a Copenhagen climate deal with some substance," Ms Caught said.

Current emission reduction offers on the table in Copenhagen would result in global temperatures rising on average by 3C, which could result in massive and unacceptable species loss.

The European Union is in talks to raise its emissions reduction target from 20 per cent to 30 per cent, a move that could trigger a chain reaction of other countries boosting their targets.

"While the Australian delegation, including Prime Minister Rudd, has been working hard behind the scenes, Australia now needs to step up one more level and inject some ambition into their action in order to be part of the progress being made," said Ms Caught.

"The best way to do this is by raising Australia’s emissions reduction target to the top of its range. Anything less than 25 per cent will not be enough.

"It is not too late to seal a deal that gives the world a climate-safe future and renewed ambition from Australia could pave the way."

More information

Jonathon Larkin, WWF Media Officer, WWF-Australia,
Mobile: 0410 221 410
Email: [email protected]

The UN climate talks in Copenhagen have ended with a weak Accord being accepted by most parties, but the present ambition is far too low to tackle dangerous climate change, WWF said today.

"Copenhagen was at the brink of failure due to poor leadership combined with an unconvincing level of ambition", said Kim Carstensen, Leader of WWF’s Global Climate Initiative.

WWF analysed the conference outcome against 10 performance criteria, finding that none of the objectives needed to fulfil the aim of keeping average global warming below the 2 degree C high risk level had been met, although some had
been partly fulfilled.

"Well meant but half-hearted pledges to protect our planet from dangerous climate change are simply not sufficient to address a crisis that calls for completely new ways of collaboration across rich and poor countries," said Mr Carstensen.

"Millions of lives, hundreds of billions of dollars and a wealth of lost opportunities lie in the difference between rhetoric and reality on climate change action."

Politicians around the world seem to be in agreement that we must stay below the 2 degree C threshold of unacceptable risks of climate change – in theory. However, practically what leaders have put on the table adds up to 3 degrees C of warming or more, according to WWF estimates.

Attention will now shift to follow up negotiations which need to fill out many details in the often vague accord – and, on a more positive note, to a host of initiatives by countries, cities, companies and communities that are starting to build low carbon economies from the base up.

The draft Copenhagen Accord is a long way from developing into a legally binding framework for decisive action on climate change.

"We needed a treaty now and at best, we will be working on one in half a year’s time," said Carstensen.

"What we have after two years of negotiation is a half-baked text of unclear substance. None of the political obstacles to effective climate action have been solved with the possible exception of the beginnings of financial flows.

The lack of clarity is illustrated by a call for a global peak in emissions "as soon as possible", in contrast to the 2007 call of the IPCC for emissions to peak in 2017.

Emissions reductions pledges remain far lower than what is required, with a leaked analysis by the UNFCCC secretariat showing a shortfall that would lead to 3 degrees C of warming even without considering extensive loopholes.

"We are disappointed but the story continues," said Carstensen. "Civil society was excluded from these final negotiations to an extraordinary degree, and that was felt during the concluding days in Copenhagen."

"We can assure the world, however, that WWF and other elements of civil society will continue engaging in every step of further negotiations."

More information

Christian Teriete, Email: [email protected], Phone: +852-9310-6805

Kim Carstensen, Email: [email protected], Phone: +45-40-343635

Copenhagen – Denmark: Kim Carstensen, the leader of WWF Global Climate Initiative

“They tell us it’s over but it’s not. Copenhagen produced a snapshot of what leaders already promised before they arrived here.

“The biggest challenge, turning the political will into a legally binding agreement has moved to Mexico.

“After years of negotiations we now have a declaration of will which does not bind anyone and therefore fails to guarantee a safer future for next generations.

“What was good about Copenhagen was the level of national pledges for climate action in most countries.

“Politically, we live in a world that agrees to stay below the danger zone of two degrees but practically what we have on the table adds up to 3 degrees or more.

“Such a gap between the rhetoric and reality could cost millions of lives, hundreds of billions of dollars and a wealth of lost opportunities.

“We are disappointed but remain hopeful. Civil society will continue watching every step of further negotiations. The leaders have to get back to work tomorrow.

“Getting a strong outcome of the follow-up process will take a lot of rbidge- building between rich and poor countries. We expect that the Mexican hosts will be ideally placed to play that role.”

More information

Jonathon Larkin, WWF Media Officer, WWF-Australia,
Mobile: 0410 221 410
Email: [email protected]

Natalia Reiter, [email protected], + 41 798 738 099

The two organisations, who boast significant experience in sustainable water use and Reef protection, have lodged their objection to the proposed $130.5 million project.

"We believe the environmental impacts of this project – particularly the threats posed to the Reef and coastal turtles, dolphins and dugongs – are gravely underestimated by SunWater in its Environmental Impact Study," WWF-Australia Reef Catchments Manager Piet Filet said.

"You cannot have transformation of this scale without dire, broadscale consequences for the environment."

The proposed ‘Water for Bowen’ project, developed by the Queensland Government owned corporation SunWater, plans to redirect water from the Burdekin River across the coastal plain to Bowen via a 130km long channel and pipeline system.

The increased water supply would be used to boost major industrial activity in the area, including at Abbot Point coal terminal, and would also lift urban and agricultural water use in the region.

Further concerns outlined by WWF-Australia and the QCC include:

• a failure to take into account the cumulative impacts of all the proposed regional developments that would result from this "trigger" project, such as the development of an industrial area and port expansions;
• a failure to take into account recent (2009) legislation to improve water quality in the Reef and its catchment areas;
• the use of an overland, open channel delivery mechanism that is at odds with national and international efforts to minimise unnecessary water evaporation;
• interruption of key habitat areas for local wildlife;
• an absence of water quality reports by James Cook University commissioned by SunWater;
• the likely destruction of vital wetland areas to make way for increased development;
• the likely interruption of vital wildlife habitat corridors as a result of the canal.

"This project is neither feasible nor responsible for the community or the ecological future of the Bowen area and should not be allowed to proceed," said Queensland Conservation Executive Director Toby Hutcheon.

More information

Dr Piet Filet, WWF-Australia Reef Catchments Manager, WWF-Australia,
Mobile: 0407 711 262

Charlie Stevens, WWF-Australia Queensland Media Manager, WWF-Australia,
Mobile: 0424 649 689

WWF-Australia today called on the Australian Government to permanently protect the nationally important bushland at Jandakot Airport, Perth. The site contains high quality habitat for dozens of native species and is a Priority 1 water source protection area.

Despite fierce community opposition, the site is under threat for the second time in two years following a proposal by Jandakot Airport Holdings to clear 220 ha of high quality remnant bushland.

In March 2008, the Australian Government’s Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts recommended that a similar proposal on the same site be rejected on the basis of its unacceptable environmental impact.

"It may sound surprising that an airport has important environmental values, but the Jandakot Airport site is one of the last remaining large and healthy areas of bushland in Perth," said WWF-Australia’s Southwest Australia Policy Officer, Katherine Howard.

"The bulk of the land to be cleared in this proposal is for non-aviation commercial development such as shops and showrooms. Essentially this means a few large businesses will profit at the cost of our rapidly disappearing natural heritage."

Jandakot Airport’s draft Master Plan 2009 proposes to clear 167ha of banksia woodland for a large commercial development, and also internal roads and infrastructure, runway extensions and a fourth runway. A further 53ha, currently classified as a ‘Conservation Precinct’, is already slated for development in the future.

However, even if this proposal is rejected, under the Airports Act 1996, the operators can prepare a new Master Plan every five years and revisit the proposal to clear this bush again.

"It is deeply concerning that local residents may be forced to defend this vital natural heritage area from commercial development every five years," said Ms Howard.

"This land is actually owned and controlled by the Federal Government. We are calling on the Australian Ministers for the Environment and Infrastructure to show leadership by permanently protecting this important bushland for the sake of the environment and the local community."

The bush at Jandakot Airport has been identified as regionally significant under the WA Bush Forever policy, and described as one of the best remaining examples of banksia woodland on the Swan Coastal Plain by the Register of the National Estate.

The site offers high quality habitat for dozens of native plants and animals, including the nationally endangered Carnaby’s black cockatoo, grand spider orchid and glossy-leaved hammer orchid. It also overlies the shallow Jandakot Groundwater Mound – a Priority 1 water source protection area which is highly vulnerable to contamination. WWF believes that development of already cleared or degraded land is more appropriate than clearing good quality remnant bush.

The draft Master Plan is currently being assessed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) 1999. An Australian Government representative will meet with concerned locals this week about the imminent decision from Minister Garrett’s office.

More information

Alvin Stone, WWF-Australia. Ph: (02) 8202 1259. Mbl: 0410 221 068. Email: [email protected]

Katherine Howard, Ph: 0423 516 430. Email: [email protected]

Notes

The Jandakot Airport Draft Master Plan 2009 is no longer available from the Jandakot Airport website since the period for public comment closed on 30 October. Relevant sections of the draft Master Plan including maps are available upon request.

Images of threatened Carnaby’s black cockatoos are available upon request.

The documentation of the referral of the Draft Master Plan to the EPBC Act including a summary of public comments to the draft Plan can be accessed here: http://www.jandakotairport.com.au/Preliminary_Draft_Master_Plan_2009.asp

The EPBC Reference Number is 2009/4796. Further information on the EPBC assessment can be accessed here: http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=4796

The following table is a summary of Jandakot Airport Holdings’ proposal to clear 167ha of good to excellent quality remnant bush under the Draft Master Plan 2009:

Purpose	Area to be cleared	Area as percentage of total to be cleared
Fourth runway	30 ha	18%
Potential runway extensions	32 ha	19
Internal roads and services	8 ha	5%
Commercial development	96ha in the next 5 years, another 53 ha described as a Conservation Precinct but proposed for possible future commercial development (NB Further 53ha have not been included in calculations)	58%
Total	167 ha	100

JAH submitted a Draft Major Development Plan in July 2007 that proposed the clearing of 102ha of native vegetation. In March 2008, the Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts provided his Department’s recommendation (EPBC 2007/3599) to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government that the 2007 Draft Major Development Plan be rejected on the basis of the significant negative environmental impact it would involve.

1. Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Recommendation Report: Commercial Development on Jandakot Airport (EPBC 2007/3599) http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/pubs/recommendation-report-07- 3599.pdf
2. Jandakot Airport Holdings/Transport – air and space/16 km south of Perth/WA/Jandakot Airport Expansion, Commercial Development and Clearing of Vegetation (EPBC Reference Number 2009/4796) http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi- bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=4796
3. WA Department of Planning. Bush Forever Volume 1 – Policies, Principles and Processes. December 2000.
   http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/Publications/99.aspx
4. The Register of the National Estate is a list of natural, Indigenous and historic heritage places throughout Australia and contains sites such as Perth’s historic King’s Park. http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/publications/about/pubs/national-estate.pdfM/a>

Australia has been ranked fourth last in an assessment of the actions being taken by industrialised and emerging countries on climate change.

"It is simply not good enough for Australia to pretend we are too small to have an effect on global climate change," said Kellie Caught, WWF-Australia’s Climate Change Policy Manager.

"While Australia is ranked 16 in terms of total emissions, its poor ranking on climate action is because it has the highest emissions per capita in the developed world, and its emissions continue to increase at approximately twice the world average.

"Australia is a significant contributor to climate change and what this ranking clearly shows is that while we might talk the talk, we are not walking the walk when it comes to action.

"It’s critical for Australia to enact the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and other laws that reduce greenhouse pollution and also provide greater support for emerging renewable technologies so we can reverse our growth in emissions."

The Climate Change Performance Index, published annually by Germanwatch and Climate Action Network Europe, compares the climate protection performance of 57 industrialised countries and emerging economies. Together these countries account for more than 90 per cent of global energy related CO2 emissions.

The 2010 Index, released overnight at the UN conference in Copenhagen, shows Australia comes in at the bottom of the list, just between Luxembourg and Kazakhstan. Even the world’s largest emitters, China and the US, rank higher than Australia.

In the three areas assessed by the index – emissions trends, emissions levels and climate policy – Australia achieved a rating of very poor, very poor and moderate respectively.

WWF is calling on the Australian Government to do all it can to seal an effective deal in Copenhagen, and then work to make sure that commitment can be implemented at home.

"Australia desperately needs a clear, effective and science-based plan to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. This should be in line with an international, legally binding agreement that limits warming to less than 2 degrees," said Ms Caught.

"A strengthened Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme that puts a cap on emissions and sends a price signal to shift to low carbon products and services is an important tool to put Australia on track. Politicians need to stop bickering and start acting."

The full report can be viewed at http://www.germanwatch.org/ccpi

More information

Jonathon Larkin, WWF Media Officer, WWF-Australia,
Mobile: 0410 221 410
Email: [email protected]

Kellie Caught, WWF Climate Change Policy Manager, WWF-Australia,
Mobile: 0406 383 277
Email: [email protected]