Can someone who is more knowledgeable of Australian constitutional
affairs that I am clarify how the new PM (rather than the full
Parliament) can ratify an international treaty such as the Kyoto Protocol?
Henrik S.
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*PM Rudd's first act: ratifying Kyoto*
Sid Marris | December 03, 2007
KEVIN Rudd has ratified the Kyoto Protocol as the first formal act of
his Labor Government.
Mr Rudd said that following a meeting of the executive council – the
decision-making body of government presided over by the Governor-General
Michael Jeffery – it was agreed that Australia should be bound by the
international climate change agreement.
The Howard Government signed the Kyoto Protocol after winning
significant concessions in 1997, but never adopted it into law.
Mr Rudd campaigned on a platform of ratifying the agreement, which binds
Australia to emissions of no more than 108 per cent compared with 1990
levels.
"This is the first official act of the new Australian Government,
demonstrating my government's commitment to tackling climate change," Mr
Rudd said.
Australia was on course to meet that emissions target that applies on
across 2008-2012 on the back of significant carbon credits, but raw
emissions are growing rapidly and will see a 27 per cent increase from
2012 to 2020 unless other measures are taken.
Some environmental groups dispute the official Department of Environment
estimates about compliance in what is called the first Kyoto period – up
to 2012 – believing Australia will be at least 1 percentage point
higher, or 109 per cent of 1990 emissions.
Mr Rudd said today that his policy measures would help ensure Australia
reached its targets for the first Kyoto period and make a meaningful
contribution beyond.
The other measures include setting a target to reduce emissions by 60
per cent on 2000 levels by 2050 - with intermediate targets to be set
after a report next year from respected economist Ross Garnaut -
establishing a national emissions trading scheme by 2010 and setting a
20 per cent target for renewable energy by 2020 to dramatically expand
the use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.
After the Rudd Government's action the instrument of ratification will
sit with United Nations for 90 days until coming into force.
However, the Australian Government will use its decision to argue for a
place in all the United Nation's forums discussing climate change at a
two-week conference in Bali that began today.
The forums will set out an agenda for dealing with climate change after
2012.
Mr Rudd, his climate change minister Penny Wong, environment minister
Peter Garrett and Treasurer Wayne Swan will attend the meetings in Bali.
There are 175 nations that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol, which
achieved a quorum of nations when Russia signed up in February 2005.
The Protocol places a heavier burden on developed nations under the
principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities". The approach
was adopted because it was believed developed countries can more easily
pay the cost of cutting emissions and that developed countries have
historically contributed more to the problem by emitting larger amounts
of greenhouse gases per person than in developing countries.
Under the Protocol, 36 countries and the European Union are required to
achieve greenhouse gas emission levels specified for each of them in the
treaty. These targets add up to a total cut in greenhouse-gas emissions
of at least 5 per cent from 1990 levels in the commitment period 2008-2012.
In the second stage discussions, some nations will be arguing for a
greater contribution from developing countries, which are wary of an
agreement that would hamper their ability to grow and increase living
standards to those of the developed world.
Australia, under the Howard Government, was seeking to persuade the
United States to take a greater role in the next round of negotiations
in the hope that developing nations, predominantly China and India,
would also be expected to temper their emissions.
Source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22861942-601,00.html
<http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22861942-601,00.html>
