Australia unveils plan to reduce emissions by 26-28 per cent by 2030

Australian government has announced to cut country’s greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions by 26-28 per cent of 2005 levels by 2030 as part of negotiations on a global climate deal.
In this regard, Conservative Prime Minister Tony Abbott led government will submit its target to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Australia’s announcement in this regard comes ahead of Climate change conference which is scheduled to be held in Paris in December 2015.
Being world’s largest exporter of coal and iron ore, Australia is one of the largest carbon emitters on a per capita mainly due to its reliance on coal-fired power plants.
Currently the country is aiming to reduce its emissions by 5 per cent by 2020, based on the level of emissions target set in 2000.

Prospects for 2015 Paris conference of UNFCCC

• The Paris conference is aiming for international efforts to create a new frame work for addressing climate change. The new international framework will seek to replace existing 1997 Kyoto Protocol.
• The main reason considered to replace this anti-global warming treaty is due to its ineffective implementation because only rich countries (developed) were required to limit their emissions.
• The new framework will seek to bring poorer countries (developing) under its ambit and force them to make commitments under the new framework.

Month: Current Affairs - August, 2015