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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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greenhouse gases trap heat

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CO2 concentration

temperature

Greenhouse Earth in Action

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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

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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