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Climate
change - Background Note
Climate change—its causes, consequences
and responses—is a major subject of
political debate in Australia and overseas.
It is a subject on which there is a wealth
of information produced by experts from a
range of different perspectives—scientific,
economic, legal, social policy and foreign
affairs. It is also a subject about which
even the experts are often not in agreement.
There is a surfeit of information on all
aspects of climate change, and it can be hard
to keep up. The Parliamentary Library has
therefore prepared this climate change website to help provide senators and members
of the Australian Parliament, and their staff,
with accurate and timely information and background
on the key issues. The website includes useful
information sources and explains core concepts
and developments necessary to understanding
and responding to the climate change debate.
Given the breadth and complexity of the subject,
the website must of necessity be regarded
as a 'work in progress'. As resources allow
and as events progress, further explanatory
information will be added.
We welcome comments from our readers to the address below.
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issues -
UNFCCC Conference
Between the 28 November and 9 December 2011 the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP 17) and the 7th meeting of the parties (CMP 7) to the Kyoto Protocol, in Durban, South Africa. The major outcome was that ‘governments decided to adopt a universal legal agreement on climate change as soon as possible, but not later than 2015’. See the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat Press releaseand for extensive coverage the IISD Reporting Services daily reports. The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, the Hon Greg Combet, welcomed the outcome see the media releaseof 11 December 2011.
Canada withdraws from the Kyoto Protocol
On 12 December 2011 the Canadian Environment Minister the Hon Peter Kent made a statement on Canada’s position re the Kyoto Protocol: ‘As we have said, Kyoto - for Canada - is in the past. As such, we are invoking our legal right to formally withdraw from Kyoto. This decision formalizes what we have said since 2006 that we will not implement the Kyoto Protocol.’
The Australian Financial Review reported on Canada’s decision, 14 December 2011, ‘Canada ditches Kyoto commitments’ . The Australian Climate Change Minister Greg Combet said: ‘we wouldn't be part of a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, unless and until there was an agreement reached including all of the major emitters.’
Clean Energy Legislative Package
The Parliamentary Library has prepared a detailed Bills Digest on the Clean Energy Bill 2011 and related bills, which deal with a carbon pricing mechanism and associated changes.
- Which 500 companies pay the tax?
- Assistance to welfare recipients
- Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and Carbon Pricing Mechanism: comparison of selected features
- Clean Energy Future: Editorials and Opinion Pieces (Members and Senators only)
- Personal income tax reform
The Clean Energy Legislation was passed by the Senate on the 8 November 2011. A price on Carbon will be introduced starting on 1 July 2012.
Briefs will be available on this page, as they are published. Posts on related topics will also be added to the Parliamentary Library's FlagPost.
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Comments to: web.library@aph.gov.au
Last reviewed
21 December, 2011
by the Parliamentary Library Web Manager
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Parliament of Australia
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