Clean Energy Future Legislation just the starting point for Australia’s climate catch-up: Oxfam

Campaigns and Advocacy, Media Releases, News article written on the 08 Nov 2011

The passage of the Clean Energy Future legislation is a positive first step in catching up to other nations on tackling climate change, international aid agency Oxfam Australia said today.

Oxfam Australia Executive Director Andrew Hewett said the world’s poorest people, who had contributed least to climate change, were already suffering its effects, from prolonged droughts and food shortages to more severe storms.

“As the worst per capita carbon polluter in the OECD, Australia has until now failed to contribute its fair share to global efforts to fight climate change,” Mr Hewett said. “Passing this legislation is a crucial first step in playing climate catch-up.”

He said developed and developing countries across the world already were taking action, with a number already running Emissions Trading Schemes. Britain has committed to slash its emissions reduction target by 50 per cent (on 1990 levels) by 2025, compared with Australia’s target of 5 per cent.

“Action now also costs less than inaction,” Mr Hewett said. “With worsening climate change impacts, Australia will be called on more frequently to respond to natural disasters – from delivering water to drought-stricken Tuvalu to responding to more severe storms in countries in our region.”

Oxfam forecasts that average prices of staple foods, such as maize, will increase by between 120 and 180 per cent by 2030. Up to half of this increase will be driven by climate change.

Across East Africa, the rainfall that farmers and communities rely on for survival is becoming increasingly unpredictable. The current food shortages in East Africa are – in part – due to the worst drought in 60 years. Communities Oxfam works with in Ethiopia report that where droughts used to happen every four to six years, they now occur every one to two years.

“The passage of this legislation is an historic shift in direction for Australia that will help build trust with other countries and momentum towards the critical UNFCCC negotiations in Durban, South Africa, later this month,” Mr Hewett said.

“However, whilst legislating a price on carbon is vital in reducing our emissions, we need to go further if we are to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change, most obviously by scaling up our emissions reduction targets in line with what the science requires.”

Mr Hewett welcomed the establishment of an independent Climate Change Authority to advise Parliament and report on progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

He said that at the upcoming UNFCCC negotiations, Australia should also support progress for a fair, ambitious and legally binding international deal, beginning with the continuation of the Kyoto Protocol through a second commitment period. The current commitment period is due to end next year.

For interviews, please contact Laurelle Keough on 0409 960 100 or laurellek@oxfam.org.au