>> The Background to Global Concerns About Climate Change

The global community has expressed a shared concern about the impact of human activities on levels of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide and their potential effect on the earth's climate. Pollutants such as carbon dioxide have been on the increase since the late 19th century when the process of industrialisation resulted in the use of non renewable fossil fuels (such as coal, oil and gas) as energy sources as opposed to traditional and renewable fuels (such as firewood and dung).(1) In fact the major human source of greenhouse gas emissions is the combustion of fossil fuels which has been reported to produce 5.5 billion tonnes of carbon per year world wide, with land use change producing an additional 1.6 billion tonnes of carbon per year (2). Of this 7.1 billion tonnes of carbon emitted globally each year, 4.5 billion tonnes are absorbed by oceans and by biological processes, particularly by the process of photosynthesis in plants. The remaining 3 billion tonnes of carbon accumulates in the earth's atmosphere each year.

>> Possible Climatic Effects

Scientists have widely predicted that the impact of increased levels of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide will include increased temperatures and changes to ocean levels (through the melting of polar ice caps and changed weather patterns). This phenomena has been widely termed 'The Greenhouse Effect.' Whether, and to what extent increased levels of greenhouse gases will create significant climatic problems is unknown. Some scientists such as Fries (1997) have predicted that temperatures may increase by an average of 20 degrees Celsius and that sea levels may rise by 50 centimetres by the year 2100.

Such concerns have provided the basis for an increased international focus upon addressing the problem of increases in greenhouse gas emissions and climatic change.

>> International Response

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change came into force on 21 March 1994, with over 160 States becoming party to the Convention. At this stage the Protocol does not have the force of law and will not do so until ratified by 55 countries. The primary aim of the Convention is to stabilise the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at a level which will prevent interference with the climate system (3). The parties to the Convention have agreed to establish programs to reduce climate change and to promote the development of technologies, practices and processes to control, prevent and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in sectors such as energy, transport, industry, agriculture, forestry and waste management (4). A series of conferences have been held in an attempt to formulate more precise ways of achieving these objectives.

 1.   C. Borough, M. Bourke and D. Bennett, 'Forests as CO2 Sinks, An Opportunity for Forest Growers' Australian Forest Grower 21(1) Autumn 1998 Special Liftout No. 43.
 2.   AACM International Pty Ltd, Greenhouse Challenge Carbon Sinks Workshop Discussion Paper (October 1997) prepared for the Greenhouse Challenge Office, Commonwealth Department of Primary Industries and Energy, Canberra, Australia.
 3.   G. Triggs, 'The Framework Convention on Climate Change: Enforcement and Australian Business' (1997) 16 AMPLJ 134, p.134
 4.   G. Triggs, 'The Framework Convention on Climate Change, Enforcement and Australian Business' (1997) 16 AMPLJ 134, p.136