Climate Change: What Role for Parliamentarians?

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Climate Change What Role for Parliamentarians?

• Dr Jan Wright
• Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment

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(No Transcript)
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Outline

• The Problem
• Fairness Who is responsible?
• Physical Impact of climate change in NZ,
  Australia, and the Pacific islands
• International Organisations
• What Parliamentarians can do

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greenhouse gases trap heat
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Greenhouse Earth in Action
CO2 concentration
temperature
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Fairness Who is responsible?

• Developed countries caused the problem

World Resources Institute. 2000.
1950-1999 Historic cumulative carbon emissions,
as a percentage of global output by nation
but small island countries are on the frontline
of climate change impacts
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Physical Impacts Australia and NZ
More heat waves
More bushfires
Temperature change 1980-1999 versus 2080-2099
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Physical Impacts Australia and NZ
Rainfall change 1980-1999 versus 2080-2099
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Physical Impacts Pacific Islands
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Physical Impacts Pacific Islands
Water shortages and drought More floods
Rainfall change 1980-1999 versus 2080-2099
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Pacific Islands are particularly vulnerable

• because
• surrounded by large expanses of ocean
• limited natural resources
• proneness to natural disasters
• extremely open economies
• rapidly increasing populations and urbanisation
• poorly developed infrastructure
• and limited funds, human resources and skills
• Entire cultures at risk

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International Organisations
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Adaptation Programs for Pacific Island States

• Pacific Island Framework for Action on Climate
  Change
• Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change
• National Adaptation Plan of Action (NAPAs) for
  Least Developed Countries

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What NZ and Australia are doing

• Domestically
• greenhouse gas emissions reduction target
• energy efficiency improvements etc
• In support of Pacific Island countries

New Zealand

• Much expertise
• Supports various programmes
• Aims to secure a good outcome for Pacific
  Island Countries at Copenhagen

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Practical Suggestions

• Be informed about the reality and help people
  understand
• Provide tools to cope
• Support policies to make a difference
• Work together, build cooperation and partnerships