As Australia looks to expand the coal industry at home, it’s also ramping up regional diplomacy aimed at avoiding condemnation by those at the front line of climate change.
The 1992 and 1993 cabinet papers confirm that Australia was a reluctant player in international discussions about climate change and environmental issues under Prime Minister Paul Keating.
Recent global climate talks at COP22 saw a growing role for businesses, NGOs and the state of California – a promising sign for action on climate change in the face of U.S. inaction.
The latest climate summit began the long slog towards putting the Paris Agreement into action. But it generated more questions than answers, particularly on how to handle a Trump-led United States.
The halls of the Marrakech climate summit have been filled with fearful talk about Donald Trump’s presidency. But there is hope that the Paris climate treaty can weather the political storm.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has announced plans to ratify the Paris climate agreement, a day after US participation in the treaty was thrown into dought by Donald Trump’s election victory.
Britain was among Europe’s most progressive voices on climate policy. Its imminent withdrawal leaves the European Union grappling with voices of dissent from member states such as Poland.
After the breakthrough at last year’s Paris climate talks, the hard work resumes this week as delegates meet in Germany to discuss how to ramp up countries’ climate targets.
Wil Burns, American University School of International Service
Despite the fanfare of signing the Paris Agreement on climate, little progress has been made on compensating poor countries for irreparable damages from climate change.
Australia will be one of more than 160 nations formally signing the Paris climate agreement in New York this week. But delivering on those promises is what really counts.
Australia has been mired in climate confusion for years - as reflected by its underwhelming performance at last year’s Paris climate summit. Here’s how to get things back on an even keel.
A carbon tax on airline tickets might sound like a tricky sell, but many airlines already collect a similar levy to raise funds for developing world health initiatives.
A majority of countries want visionary action rather than pragmatism at the Paris climate talks, says the International Institute for Environment and Development’s Saleemul Huq.
For as long as the United Nations has been holding climate summits, protesters have been gathering outside them to bemoan the rate of progress and call for tougher action.
The stakes could scarcely be higher at December’s climate summit in Paris, described as the world’s best chance of averting climate catastrophe. The Conversation will be there to see if the talks can deliver.