Introduction

On the 10th of November the Australian Government ratified the Paris Agreement to significant media coverage. At the same time the Government also ratified the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol, which states Australia’s intention to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions between 2013 and 2020.

Climate change and the Kyoto Protocol

Current climate change is caused by the burning of coal, oil and natural gas, along with intensive agriculture and land-clearing practices. These actions release greenhouse gases into the air, primarily carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and nitrous oxide. Certain industrial processes release other greenhouse gases such as hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride.

The increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases over the last century has caused the global average temperature to increase, leading to changes in rainfall, seasonal variations, and the intensity and frequency of some dangerous weather events in some parts of the world. According to the State of the Climate 2016 Australia is already experiencing an increase in extreme heat events and longer bushfire seasons, as well as a rise in average sea level in some coastal areas that amplifies the impact of storm surges.