Kyoto Protocol Ratification Bill 2003 [No. 2]

25 March 2004

© Commonwealth of Australia 2004
ISBN 0 642 71367 7

Referral and conduct of the inquiry
Background to the reference
Acknowledgments

Climate change
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
The Kyoto Protocol
Kyoto Protocol flexibility measures
The Australian Government position on the Kyoto Protocol

Australia needs to be, and be seen to be, a good global environmental citizen and to be seen to be serious about tackling greenhouse gas emissions
If it fails to ratify, Australia will be excluded from potential emissions trading and CDM benefits
If it fails to ratify, Australian industry will be adversely affected [and some firms may be driven offshore with consequent loss of Australian jobs and profits]
Assuming that the Kyoto Protocol enters into force, and Australia fails to ratify, in accordance with Article 13(2) of the Protocol it will not be eligible to participate formally in the proceedings of any session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, and will therefore not be eligible to participate formally in negotiations on the post-2012 period that occur within the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol
Ratification would allow Australia to meet its 108% emissions target at lower cost
If developed countries embraced the Protocol, developing countries would be more likely to accept emissions targets in commitment periods after 2012
Ratification need not be a permanent or irreversible commitment

Australia’s ratification would make no difference to the coming into effect of the Kyoto Protocol
Australia is already committed to meeting its emissions target, whether it ratifies or not
The Kyoto Protocol will not be effective in reducing global emission levels
The Kyoto Protocol will harm Australian industry
Cost-benefit analyses suggest that the costs of the Kyoto Protocol exceed its benefits
The volume of greenhouse gas emissions from a given country is not a good measure of that country’s impact on global emissions
The Protocol lacks credible compliance measures
Alternative mechanisms
Technological solutions
Problems associated with Kyoto’s flexibility measures

Climate change
Should Australia ratify the Kyoto Protocol?
The economic impact of ratification
The practical affect of Australian non-ratification
Australia's greenhouse gas abatement programs and policies

Why the Kyoto Protocol should be ratified
  The Kyoto Protocol should be ratified
  Climate change
  The Kyoto Protocol is a flawed treaty
  The Kyoto Protocol would adversely affect our economic interests and jobs
  Technology can solve global warming and allow us to continue to exploit our fossil fuels (we can have our cake and eat it too)
We can meet our 108 per cent target and reduce growth in greenhouse gas emissions by domestic action and without the need to ratify the Kyoto Protocol
Support for the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol
Recommendation