The UNFCCC Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP) published documents which are to help parties prepare to the meeting of UNFCCC in Barcelona (which is being held at the beginning of the November) and facilitate the work on new international agreement on climate change.

One of the most interesting paper that was presented is that which indicates the proposition of several developing countries for individual reduction targets for Annex I countries of UNFCCC (the document is available here).

All the documents can be found on the UNFCCC website.

However below we show also very interesting table presenting the official reduction commitments from Annex I countries which were already published in different formal plans and statements.

Regards,
Anthony

According to results presented by Australian Department of Climate Change emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) rose by 1,1% in 2008 compared to year 2007. However this increase is not influencing on the target from Kyoto Protocol (it is 8% increase in GHG emissions, yes increase, in period 2008-2012 comparing with 1990 levels). Australia is on good road to meet it although in case that the government will implement climate measure that will help to mitigate this rise in coming years.

Personally I’m not afraid about little rise in GHG emissions in Australia in 2008 (however they are 7% above the levels from 1990, and they have ‘track-record’ of average 1,5% increase in three consecutive years). This statement ‘is backed’, in my opinion, by intensive activities and declarations of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to implement an emission trading scheme in his country starting from 2011. Preliminary plans informed about 2010, but Australian government would like to wait amongst others for outcomes of December’s Conference of the Parties in Copenhagen. Kevin Rudd said even that if developed countries show some ambitious commitments there he would opt for more rigorous targets in emission scheme (even 25% in 2020 below 2000 levels, now the draft project includes 5 to 15% target).

I hope that the increases in GHG emissions are an ‘accident’ and the future will come with some spectacular reductions in Australia regarding this aspect.

It is important as Australia ratified the Kyoto Protocol very late (in December 2007, during Conference of the Parties in Bali) and they need to show their efforts in fight against global warming.

Regards,
Anthony