Scientific consensus
Joint science academies' statement 2008
The world’s leading science academies have affirmed “that climate change is happening and that anthropogenic [human induced] warming is influencing many physical and biological systems.” Among other actions, their declaration urges all nations to take “appropriate economic and policy measures to accelerate transition to a low carbon society and to encourage and effect changes in individual and national behaviour.”
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Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2007
The IPCC is an international scientific organisation created by the United Nations Environment Program and World Meteorological Organization. In February 2007, the IPCC released a summary report stating that it finds that global warming is “unequivocal” and that human actions are "very likely" the cause, meaning a 90% or greater probability. It characterises global warming as an increase of 0.75ºC in average global temperatures over the last 100 years.
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Government action
The Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is an agreement made under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Developed countries such as Australia that ratify this protocol commit to reducing their emissions of greenhouse gases. Australia ratified the Convention in 1992 and signed the Protocol in 1997. In December 2007, Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd ratified the Kyoto Protocol and this came into effect in March 2008. Learn more about Australia’s commitment.
Full text of the Kyoto Protocol
The Bali Road Map
More than 180 countries came together in Bali in December 2007 as part of the United Nations Climate Change Conference. This conference adopted the Bali Road Map, which aims to reach a new global agreement by 2009 to contain greenhouse gas emissions beyond 2012.
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Next steps
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change continues to work on a strengthened and effective international climate change agreement, as well as emission reduction rules and tools under the Kyoto Protocol. This is part of an ongoing negotiating process the next section of which the UN Secretary General wishes to be concluded in Copenhagen at the end of 2009.
Learn more about the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change