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Australia is a major energy exporter worldwide, particularly in carbon-emitting fossil fuels, yet the country also finds itself struggling to respond to already significant changes in its climate.
A relatively small wealthy nation of 20 million people, Australia has large, low cost and high quality coal, gas and uranium reserves. Due to its growing economy and the increasing global demand for energy, Australia has become the world’s largest coal exporter, second largest uranium exporter, and a major LNG exporter.1 This is challenging context for instituting an effective climate change framework: energy-related emissions in Australia, which represent about 70% of total emissions, rose by approximately 35% between 1990 and 2004 and are projected to rise to 50% above 1990 levels by 2010.2 The country has one of the world's highest emissions per-capita because of its domestic reliance on coal.3
Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol due to concerns that it would cost his country jobs during a period of economic growth.4 Sentiments may be changing, however, in part due to already significant changes to the continent's climate--most notably, being the worst droughts in Australia's history, which have occurring over the last 5 to 10 years.5 Australia's new government, headed by Kevin Rudd, backs the Kyoto Protocol. Prime Minister Rudd signed the instrument of ratification following his assuming office on December 3, 2007.6
In early 2007, Australia announced that it would ban incandescent light bulbs by 2010, replacing them with highly efficient compact fluorescent that use only one fourth as much electricity.7
Observed and predicted climate changes
Climate Change in South Australia
Source: Chapter two, Climate Change Trends, Government of South Australia. Author: Government of South Australia. Permission: Public Document
The findings of the technical report conducted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) show that significant climate change in and surrounding Australia over the last century exists. Since 1910, the surface air temperature has increased by about 0.9 ºC. Accompanying the general warming since 1950 have been changes in the frequency of extremely high and low temperatures across Australia.8
Since 1950, North-west Australia has seen an increase in annual rainfall, whereas eastern and south-western Australia has become drier. In the past 5 to 10 years, the country has experienced the most severe droughts in its history. The drier weather in southern and eastern Australia has resulted in a reduction in surface water available for storage. The global warming trend has exacerbated droughts in Australia. Droughts are becoming hotter since the start of the 20th century and in the more recent droughts both the maximum and minimum temperatures have been higher.9
According to IPCC’s study, the significant temperature increase in Australia over the 20th century is “very unlikely” to be due to natural climate variations alone, and it was” likely that there has been a significant contribution to the observed warming during the second half of the century from increasing atmospheric greenhouse gases and sulfate aerosols”.10 11
Footnotes
1. : Iain MacGill and Hugh Outhred, "Australian Climate Change Policy and its Implications for AP6 Countries," summary paper, China Energy Law International Symposium (Beijing, Ap 27-28, 2007)
2. : Australian Government, "Analysis and recent trends of greenhouse indicators 1990-2004."
3. : Iain MacGill and Hugh Outhred, "Australian Climate Change Policy and its Implications for AP6 Countries," summary paper, China Energy Law International Symposium (Beijing, Ap 27-28, 2007)
4. : "Howard rejects emissions targets", BBC News Website (2006-08-16). Retrieved on 30 October 2006.
5. Technical Report, Chapter 2 Past Climate Change, IPCC.
6. : AP, "Australia’s New Premier Promises Kyoto Support," St. Peterburg Times, Issue #1327 (93), Tuesday, Nov 27, 2007.
7. :Lester R. Brown, "Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization," Chapter 1.
8. Technical Report, Chapter 2 Past Climate Change, IPCC.
9. Technical Report, Chapter 2 Past Climate Change, IPCC.
10. Karoly and Braganza 2005
11. Technical Report, Chapter 2 Past Climate Change, IPCC.
Resources
- Climate Change in Australia compiles IPCC's report about climate change in Australia, and was created by CSIRO and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology in partnership with the Australian Greenhouse Office through the Australian Climate Change Science Program. Accessed Oct 28, 2009.
- Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, develops and implements national policy, programs and legislation to protect and conserve Australia's environment and heritage and to promote Australian arts and culture.
- "Managing our coastal zone in a changing climate: the time to act is now," Report by the House Standing Committee on Climate Change, Water, Environment and the Arts Australian House of Representatives, 26 October 2009. Accessed Oct 28, 2009.
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