A global solution to climate change
Climate change is happening. If world leaders don’t take strong action now, evidence points to massive environmental damage that will lead to a dramatic loss of croplands and water sources and an increase in poverty and suffering around the world. We need a global solution to climate change.
What’s the current situation?
The United Nations climate negotiations are best placed to deliver a global solution to climate change as both developed and developing countries are involved in the process. It is the UN climate negotiations where the Kyoto Protocol – the existing international climate agreement – was decided upon in 1997.
We hoped that with the considerable pressure from progressive world leaders and civil society that the 2009 UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen would deliver a strong climate treaty, instead what was agreed to was a weak, non binding set of agreements.
Despite this set back, some progress has been made. Significantly, a global Green Climate Fund was established to help developing countries cope with the impacts of climate change and to reduce their carbon emissions. While established however, countries have not yet agreed on sources of finance to help fill the fund, such as a carbon price on international shipping and a financial transactions tax. The issue of new and innovative sources will need urgent attention and progress in 2012 so the fund does not remain an empty shell.
At the most recent UN Climate Summit in Durban, South Africa, some developed countries agreed to a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol and all countries agreed to negotiate a new global agreement to reduce emissions. This agreement is to be finalised by 2015 and be implemented from 2020. While a global agreement is vital, this deal is not ambitious enough to meet the needs of poor people who are already fighting climate change. We need action much sooner than 2020.
What needs to happen next?
Governments from around the world must urgently work to finalise the details of a comprehensive global climate agreement.
To secure a safe climate future and protect the lives of millions of vulnerable people around the world, wealthy developed nations must:
- Agree upon ways to raise long-term finance urgently needed to fill the newly established Climate Fund. This money could be raised through innovative sources like a Robin Hood Tax and a small levy on international aviation and shipping pollution. International shipping is a major – and rapidly growing – source of greenhouse gas emissions. Global agreement to apply a carbon price to shipping can both reduce emissions and raise much needed funds to support developing countries tackle climate change. See Oxfam's briefing paper Out of the Bunker
- Recognise that climate change is an additional burden on the world's poor and ensure that funding for climate change adaptation is additional to existing international aid. Every dollar diverted from the aid program is one dollar less for vital health, education, water and sanitation projects that save lives and help people out of poverty.
- Ensure that women, who are among the most affected by climate change, should be equitably represented on the board of the new Climate Fund so that they have a say in how money is most effectively spent
- Upgrade current emission reduction pledges – which countries acknowledged during the Cancun Climate Summit are inadequate – to be in line with the latest science. Wealthy countries should set binding emission reduction targets of at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2010.
What can you do?
Over the past few years the global climate movement has continued to grow – with millions of people around the world calling for strong and effective climate action. Over the coming year it will be as important as ever to ensure that the climate science and the stories of those most affected – poor people in developing countries – aren’t left out of the political debate.
Help us share the stories of climate change affected communities and the inspiring ways they are adapting by watching and sharing the Land is Life materials and enquire about hosting an exhibition in your community.
Help us lobby the government to ensure climate action remains on top of their agenda. Our message is clear: It’s time to act on climate change!
Take action
- Join our campaign and become a Climate Tracker
- Take the latest climate action including signing the climate petition.
Learn more
- Hear stories from the most affected, watch our Faces of Climate Change short film series
- Read about how our Pacific neighbours are on the front-line of climate change
- Download our new resource Getting Smart on Climate Change
Conditions of use
When you contribute content to our site, you retain ownership of the copyright. You also grant permission to Oxfam Australia to display and distribute your content, and to use it for any promotional purpose, without remuneration, compensation, or payment of royalties.
In addition, you are responsible for the content of your material. Oxfam Australia takes no responsibility for the content of any messages or information posted by contributors.
Oxfam Australia retains the right, in our sole discretion, to review, edit or delete any material which we deem to be illegal, offensive or otherwise inappropriate.
