The Climate Institute has welcomed the conclusion of the Doha Climate Summit, saying its agreement towards streamlining negotiations towards a new legally binding agreement by 2015 is a step in the right direction.

 

"Doha was a difficult meeting but it has cleared a tentative path to a 2015 global agreement that covers all major emitters," The Climate Institute’s Deputy CEO, Erwin Jackson, said.

 

"The meeting has ensured the future of the Kyoto Protocol as a stepping stone to a global agreement as well as process to increase international scrutiny of Australia's 2020 emission targets and climate finance contributions.

 

“While the outcomes allow a clear focus on the new 2015 binding agreement, to a great extent it has been business as usual for global climate politics. It is clear that for an ambitious outcome in 2015 to be delivered then the ambition and spirit of cooperation countries bring to these meetings needs a reset,” Mr Erwin said.

 

Elements of the Doha agreement also include:

  • Agreement to implement Kyoto's second commitment period from the 1st January next year: The Climate Institute welcomes Australia's participation in the new round of Kyoto targets. As an important gesture of good faith, Australia should table the new treaty arrangements in the
first week of Parliament next year to ensure speed ratification of the amendments. Kyoto targets will be re-examined with a view to increase ambition in 2014.  Indications of increased ambition are to be submitted by 30 April 2014.
  • A commitment to scale up to the US$100 billion 2020 commitment on climate finance: Australia has yet to indicate the scale of its ongoing climate finance contribution. European Union countries pledged approximately $7.5 billion over the next couple of years in Doha. By the end of 2013, Australia will need to show the world it has clear plan to increase its climate finance. This will be put under the international spotlight and examined by a ministerial meeting at the end of 2013.
  • Increasing ambition: Outside Kyoto, a number of political and technical processes have been initiated to encourage and incentivise great ambition before 2020. This includes a review of adequacy of the global goal of 2oC and a world leader summit to be convened by the UN Secretary General in 2014.