In less than a month, government representatives from around the world will hold negotiations to ramp up global climate action at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is unlikely to join Australia’s delegation in Egypt, the Prime Minister will have the final decision on what global agreements Australia supports.
This includes three vital global agreements that will drive down emissions this decade:
- Slashing global methane pollution
- Helping developing countries adapt to the climate impacts they are already facing and develop their economies with renewables instead of coal and gas
- Stopping public finance for new coal and gas projects overseas.
If enough countries commit to supporting the agreements, it will help keep a global temperature rise of 1.5°C in reach and protect communities and wildlife from the worst climate impacts.
Send an email to the Prime Minister urging him to support the three big global agreements to slash climate pollution at COP27.
At COP26 in Glasgow last year, Australia proved it was a climate laggard. At a conference about cutting pollution, the Morrison Government invited polluting gas giant Santos to host a display at Australia’s pavilion.
At COP27, the Albanese Government must join with other countries in driving down global pollution now and lift Australia’s climate ambition on the world stage.
The Albanese Government is open to ramping up climate action, but they need continued encouragement. The Greens and Independents spoke out to lift the ambition of Australia’s new Climate Bill before it passed. Now let’s raise our voices and demand that Australia supports the three big global agreements to slash climate pollution at COP27 this November.
Here is an in-depth look at the three big global agreements Australia should endorse at COP27:
1. The global pledge to slash methane emissions
122 countries have signed the global pledge to reduce global methane emissions by at least 30 per cent from 2020 levels by 2030, but Australia hasn’t. Methane is a greenhouse gas that powerfully heats our climate over its 12-year lifetime in the atmosphere.
The latest science warns that over the short term a tonne of methane warms the planet almost 100 times more than a tonne of CO2. To date, methane emissions are responsible for around 30% of global warming.¹ The United Nations says cutting methane pollution is the best way to slow climate change over the next 25 years.²
Right now Australia’s methane emissions from coal and gas are skyrocketing. The International Energy Agency estimates that our methane emissions are almost double what our national reporting suggests.
Global methane emissions are on the rise - and it’s supercharging the climate crisis. 👎
— Australian Conservation Foundation (@AusConservation) March 2, 2023
Why exactly is this greenhouse gas so nasty? We’ve got you covered with this handy explainer. pic.twitter.com/aI3vXYWPNt
2. Boosting finance for countries on the frontlines of climate impacts
It is often the countries and communities that are least responsible for causing climate damage that are on the frontlines of climate impacts, including our neighbours in the Pacific and Southeast Asia.
In addition to curbing climate pollution, developed countries like Australia have agreed to give finance to help lower-income countries adapt to climate impacts and reduce emissions.
Research by Oxfam and ActionAid shows that Australia’s current climate finance commitment falls well below our fair share of $4 billion annually.³ At COP15 in Copenhagen, Australia joined other countries in making a collective pledge of USD $100 billion in climate finance.
The Albanese Government should amend this at COP27 and become an international leader in effective and equitable global climate solutions. The first step is boosting our climate finance to a minimum of $3 billion for 2020-2025.
3. Ending international finance for fossil fuels
39 countries have signed the breakthrough agreement to stop financing overseas fossil fuel projects, and instead shift their investment to renewable energy. In addition to Japan’s commitment at this year’s G7 Summit, the signatories have the combined potential to shift USD $39 billion a year of government finance from fossil fuels to clean energy.⁴
Between 2010 and 2020, Australian fossil fuel projects received $36.3 billion from international public finance. In comparison, renewable projects received just $3.3 billion.⁵
We need Australia to lead by example and join the effort to turn off the international fossil fuel finance tap. Growing the list of signatories, including Australia, will help ramp up the global investment needed to transition to renewables and slash pollution.
Now let’s lift our climate ambition on the world stage
At last year’s climate conference in Glasgow our government invited polluting gas giant Santos to host a display at the Australian pavilion. We have come a long way since then.
Add your voice and help lift Australia's climate action on the world stage. Email the Prime Minister and ask that he support the three big global agreements to slash pollution at COP27 in Egypt and lift Australia's climate ambition on the world stage.
¹ 'Joint statement on Australia's methane emissions'
² United Nations: 'New global methane pledge aims to tackle climate damage'
³ ActionAid: 'Australia funding only one-tenth of its global fair share on climate'
⁴ OilChange International: 'Explainer: What the COP26 and G7 promises to stop funding fossils in 2022 mean for climate and communities'
⁵ Jubilee Australia: 'Fossil fuel pushers'
Header image: Ali Khademolhosseini
