Australia at COP29 Climate Diary

The UN climate conference, the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP28) is ocurring in Baku in the Azerbaijan from Monday November 11 to Friday November 22, 2024 (but may also go into overtime). 

This is my digital diary of Australia at COP29 in Baku. I will be following whats going on at in Baku online. Follow with me. I'll be updating this blog post regularly up to the end of November 2024. 

President-Designate for COP 29 is Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan's Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources. Azerbaijan is a repressive state with a poor human rights record according to Human Rights Watch in leadup to a meeting in Bonn in June.

Australia will likely be represented at the ministerial level by Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen. See Tracking Australian Ministers and Australian pledges at COP29. Australia is lobbying to hold COP31 in 2026, and an announcement of host is likely in Baku. The city of Belem in Brazil is holding COP30 in 2025.

I'll be including detail from IISD Earth Negotiating Bulletin for each day. I might pluck details from the full report, especially relevant to Australia, and will post the 'In the Corridors" section which provides a concise  'vibe' summary on the negotiations. I might include details from other sources as needed.

Links: UNFCCC COP29 website for documents | Azerbaijan COP29 website | COP29 Climate Justice Coalition | DCCEEW international climate action page | Carbon Brief Negotiating Text Tracker | Fossil of the Day awards leader Board | 

28 October - OXFAM report: Carbon inequality kills. Why curbing the excessive emissions of an elite few can create a sustainable planet for all. (Oxfam Report | Make Polluters Pay Petition | Guardian) Report reveals the stark reality of carbon inequality and its consequences for our planet. The analysis shows billionaires emit more carbon pollution in 90 minutes than the average person does in a lifetime. The richest 1% of the global population are responsible for more emissions than the poorest two-thirds of humanity combined. The consumption and the investments in fossil fuel corporations of the richest billionaires are driving the unsustainable levels of emissions we see today.
"Our research signals that climate breakdown cannot be avoided without reducing excessive wealth concentration among an elite few. We must take urgent action to dramatically change the consumption and investment habits of the richest people."

The richest 10% in Australia emitted 31% of national consumption emissions between 1990 and 2019. The emissions of the wealthiest 1% of Australians during that time are enough to cause $243bn in economic damage globally between 1990 and 2050. While Australia is experiencing some climate impacts, the loss of Gross Domestic Product(GDP) will be 5 times higher in the Pacific than in Australia.

28 October 2024 - Corporations using ‘ineffectual’ carbon offsets are slowing path to ‘real zero’, more than 60 climate scientists say. Pledge signed by experts from nine countries reflects concerns that offsets generated from forest-related projects may not have cut emissions. (The Guardian | Lethal Humidity Global Council) Note: the fallback for corporate emission reduction under Australia's Safeguard Mechanism is companies can 100% use carbon offsets (with questionable integrity) to meet targets.

28 October 2024 - Greenhouse gas levels surged to a new record in 2023, committing the planet to rising temperatures for many years to come. (World Meteorological Organization). Carbon dioxide (CO2) is accumulating in the atmosphere faster than any time experienced during human existence, rising by more than 10% in just two decades. (Guardian) "The last time the Earth experienced a comparable concentration of CO2 was 3-5 million years ago, when the temperature was 2-3°C warmer and sea level was 10-20 meters higher than now."

28 October 2024 - Pollutants from gas stoves kill 40,000 Europeans each year. Study says harmful gases linked to heart and lung disease shave nearly two years off a person’s life. Estimate is conservative as study only looked at impact of N2O emissions. (Guardian | Universitat Jaume I) 

28 October 2024 - Miscarriages due to climate crisis a ‘blind spot’ in action plans. (Guardian) This comes from a report on 10 New Insights in Climate Science 2024/2025 (10insightsclimate.science):

1. Methane levels are surging. Enforceable policies for emission reductions are essential. Methane levels have surged since 2006, driven primarily by human activities. We have enough information about our methane emissions to take action, but more enforceable policies to drive reductions are vital. While reductions in the fossil fuel and waste sectors are most feasible, addressing agricultural emissions is also critical. 
2. Reductions in air pollution have implications for mitigation and adaptation given complex aerosol-climate interactions. me events. Mitigation and adaptation strategies cannot afford to ignore aerosol climate interactions.
3. Increasing heat is making more of the planet uninhabitable. Rising heat and humidity are pushing more people outside of habitable climatic conditions, with over 600 million already affected and many more at risk as warming continues. Heat action plans, early warning systems, and targeted measures for vulnerable groups are a priority for adaptation in the most affected regions.
4. Climate extremes are harming maternal and reproductive well-being. Climate change is increasing risks for pregnant women, unborn children and infants, threatening decades of progress in maternal and reproductive health (MRH). These impacts are exacerbated in contexts with high levels of poverty and entrenched gender norms. Effective interventions should be integrated with broader efforts to advance gender equity and climate justice.
5. Concerns about El Niño-Southern Oscillation and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation with an increasingly warm ocean. 
6. Biocultural diversity can bolster the Amazon’s resilience against climate change. 
7. Critical infrastructure is increasingly exposed to climate hazards, with risk of cascading disruption across interconnected networks. 
8. New frameworks for climate-resilient development in cities provide decision-makers with ideas for unlocking co-benefits. Few cities have effectively integrated mitigation and adaptation strategies in their climate action plans. 
9. Closing governance gaps in the energy transition minerals global value chain is crucial for a just and equitable energy transition. 
10. Public’s acceptance of (or resistance to) climate policies crucially depends on perceptions of fairness. 

28 October 2024 - SANTOS being sued in a groundbreaking case for greenwashing its climate targets. (Guardian) Case began in federal court today, brought by one of its own shareholders, the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR). The organisation claims Santos did not have a proper basis for saying it had a clear pathway to reduce emissions by 26% to 30% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2040, which constituted misleading or deceptive conduct in breach of Australian corporate and consumer laws. Focus will also be on description of natural gas as a “clean fuel” and representations of blue hydrogen (produced using natural gas with carbon capture and storage) as “clean” and “zero emissions”.

26 October - At CHOGM the Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration for "One Resilient Common Future" adopted, calling on all 56 Commonwealth nations to protect and restore the ocean in the face of severe climate change, pollution and impacts related to over-exploitation. (The Commonwealth | Climate Citizen)

26 October 2024 - King Selling Australian Gas expansion in Japan while Prime Minister pacifies Island Nations facing Sea Level Rise existential threat (Climate Citizen)

25 October - UK-Australia Bilateral on sidelines of CHOGM: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met in person for the first time the UK Prime M inister Keir Starmer and agreed to step up cooperation on climate and energy. (PM Gov AU)

25 October 2024 - UNEP Emissions Gap report calls for immediate action (UNEP | Climate Citizen - Emissions Gap Report 2024: we are out of time, teetering on the edge of climate disaster)

25 October 2024 - Over 17,000 community members, including Traditional Owners, scientists, and healthcare professionals have called on APA at its AGM not to light the fuse on the Beetaloo carbon bomb. Will UniSuper do the same? Petition to UniSuper (Market Forces | MSN)

CHOGM meeting in Samoa: new report highlights Australia, Canada, UK role in fossil fuel emissions

This page discusses CHOGM 2024 and climate change and the outcomes.

A New report launched at Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa reveals the stark imbalance in fossil fuel extraction across the Commonwealth and highlights the dominance of three wealthy nations—Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom—in driving fossil fuel expansion and emissions. 

The report Uncommon Wealth: Fossil Fuel Expansion in the Commonwealth Dominated by Three Wealthy Countries - was commissioned by the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative and based on data from the Global Registry of Fossil Fuels. 

It shows that despite representing only 6% of the Commonwealth’s population, Australia, Canada, and the UK are responsible for over 60% of emissions generated from extraction across Commonwealth countries since 1990.

Outcomes: Samoa Communique | Ocean Declaration | 
King Charles on Climate Action | CANi & PICAN Briefing Note |
Australia: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese | Foreign Minister Penny Wong

Australia at Biological Diversity COP16 in Columbia

UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP16 meets from October 20 - 27 in Cali, Columbia. This is a Live article actively updated during October.

Participants will review the state of implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, including through alignment with national biodiversity strategies and action plans as well as resource mobilization. At the previous summit, COP15, which was held in Montreal in December 2022, countries agreed to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The GBF is a set of four goals to 2050 and 23 targets to 2030 with the overarching mission of reversing the decline of biodiversity around the world by 2030. (Read the goals and targets here: The Montreal Moment for Biodiversity: Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted)

Australia submitted its 6th national report to the CBD in 2020, and is due this year to submit a new national report.

COP16 Meeting documents | Carbon Brief INtereactive: who wants what | DCCEEW on CBD
CBD Youtube | CBD-Live Youtube |  IISD Earth Negotiation Bulletin on COP16

King Selling Australian Gas expansion in Japan while Prime Minister pacifies Island Nations facing Sea Level Rise existential threat

Minister King in Japan spruiking gas. Source: X

Currently the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is ocurring in Apia Samoa with Australia being called upon by numerous Island nation leaders and ministers to stop approving new fossil fuel projects and to start phasing out fossil fuels. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong are there to rebutt and pacify the pointed diplomatic attacks.

Meanwhile Minister for Energy and Resources Madeleine King is in Japan talking up and selling Australian gas expansion and repeating some lies such as Australian gas is needed to keep the lights on.

Emissions Gap Report 2024: we are out of time, teetering on the edge of climate disaster

This is the fifteenth annual report by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) on the Emissions Gap. The warning is clear in 2024 that not enough is being done to reduce emissions which will result in catastrophic impacts down the line. Key take aways from the report:

• It is still technically possible to meet the 1.5°C goal, but only with a G20-led massive global mobilization to cut all greenhouse gas emissions, starting today
• Continuation of current policies will lead to a catastrophic temperature rise of up to 3.1°C
• Current commitments for 2030 are not being met; even if they are met, temperature rise would only be limited to 2.6-2.8°C

What needs to be done?

Nations must collectively commit to cutting 42 per cent off annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and 57 per cent by 2035 in the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) due in February 2025 – and back this up with rapid action – or the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal will be gone within a few years. 

AMOC collapse: Scientists issue open letter warning on catastrophic risk of Atlantic ocean circulation collapse

Risk of Collapse of Ocean Circulation (AMOC) underestimated: Continued greenhouse gas emissions could trigger a regional cooling around the North Atlantic warned the Icelandic Met Office

An Open Letter by Climate Scientists, including 3 Australian climate scientists, was presented to the Nordic Council of Ministers warning of AMOC collapse "risk has so far been greatly underestimated. Such an ocean circulation change would have devastating and irreversible impacts especially for Nordic countries, but also for other parts of the world."

Global impacts may include "a shift in tropical rainfall belts, reduced oceanic carbon dioxide uptake (and thus faster atmospheric increase) as well as major additional sea-level rise particularly along the American Atlantic coast, and an upheaval of marine ecosystems and fisheries"

Inaugural Global Nature Positive Summit more financial greenwash than tackling decline in nature and biodiversity

Australia committed two years ago in 2022 at the landmark Convention on Biodiversity COP15 meeting in Montreal to hold an inaugural Global Nature Positive Summit. This occurred in Sydney 8-10 October. 

Unlike the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted at Biodiversity COP15,  the Nature Positive Summit proved to have substantial  greenwash from the Australian and NSW state Governments, as they continue to approve and subsidise new coal and gas or logging of native forests.

The Federal Labor Government had been elected in May 2022 with a commitment to take strong climate action and to revamp and overhaul Australia's ineffective national environment laws. 

A report on State of the Australian Environment had its publication delayed by the previous Coalition Government. This report showed most ecosystems are declining or in a dire state which needs to be addressed, and is already impacting human society and economics. This expert report summaried at The Conversation, argued that:

• Australia’s environment is generally deteriorating
• Climate change threatens every ecosystem
• The importance of Indigenous knowledge and management to deliver on-ground change
• Environmental management isn’t well coordinated
• Environmental decline and destruction is harming our well-being

Since Labor came to power in May 2022 we have seen some changes made such as a Water Trigger and Nature Repair Market, further changes to establish an Environment Protection Agency and Data Information Agency at a standstill in the Senate with the Government unwilling to compromise with the Greens and crossbench. Most substantive changes to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act have now been pushed out to beyond the next election. A fundamental fail by this Labor Government.

The Coalition has refused to bargain on a bipartisan basis and has signaled its support for business as usual regarding land clearing, forestry and mining. They too refused to act on the Samuel Review to upgrade ther EPBC Act. Ambition to address biodiversity crisis and species extinction is failing from both major parties.

The Nature Positive Summit seems to be more talkfest as Government policy ambition fails to address the nature negative policies already in place and driving biodiversity loss. The conference was held a week after three new thermal coal mine projects approved by the Federal Government that will result in up to 1.5 billion tonnes of lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. 

The Labor NSW government can't stand high either as Forests NSW is about to log native forests 400km north of Sydney in the Bulga State Forest, which includes habitat for ther endangered Greater Glider. The Federal Government Regional Forestry Agreements with the states exclude application of the present ineffective national environment laws to protect endangered species.

Statements by Foreign Minister Senator Wong on Climate at UN General Assembly September 2024

Australian Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.  She represented Australia on the Palestine/Gaza/Israel debates, but also on climate action in various forums including Australia's National Statement to the General Assembly.

Climate action was part of her speech of Australia's National Statrement to the General Assembly, including advocacy to hold COP31 in 2026, while back in Australia Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek approved three thermal coal projects on 24 September 2024 in a move criticised as ‘the opposite of climate action’ (Guardian) Merri-bek outrage over coal mines decision- coal approval last straw. (CAMerribek) Rising Tide blocks Newcastle coal train (ABC News)

Video: The Tipping Points of Climate Change and Where We Stand in 2024 | Johan Rockström (TED talk)

I came across this TED talk by accident, produced mid August 2024.

"We're nearly halfway through the 2020s, dubbed the most decisive decade for action on climate change. Where exactly do things stand? Climate impact scholar Johan Rockström offers the most up-to-date scientific assessment of the state of the planet and explains what must be done to preserve Earth's resilience to human pressure."

This 20 minute video really is worth watching to inform you to step up climate action.

Australia experiences record breaking winter heatwave; Rapid snow season decline; Global Snapshot of news reveals climate crisis extent

Australia experiencing a late winter season  heatwave breaking temperature recotds.

Australia is in the grip of a late winter season heatwave with temperature records falling across most states. Southern States are experiencing storm fronts with strong winds some times in excess of 100km/hr.

Australia: late Winter #heatwave temperature records broken for Queensland, New South Wales, Northern Territory and South Australia. In Qld, Birdsville’s running maximum temperature at 3:30pm AEST on Friday was 39.6°C. This is roughly 15°C above average for this time of year and Qld’s highest winter temperature on record. (Weatherzone)

Sydney Airport has broken its winter record of 31.1°C this Friday, reaching 31.6°C at 2:48pm. In August 2024 to date, Sydney's running average maximum has been 21°C, some 3.1 above the long-term average. (Weatherzone)

In Queensland, Rental advocates warn heat-related deaths will increase if Queensland regulations aren't tightened. The ABC News report summarises that:

• Parts of Queensland are predicted to see a record-breaking 36-degree end to winter.
• Advocates want efficiency regulations to protect renters and public housing tenants.
• The state government says their reforms have made renting fairer and lifted housing standards.
• See associated VIDEO: Growing risk of heat-related deaths as Queensland temperatures soar

See climatologist Andrew King explain at the Conversation, published 26 August 2024: 40°C in August? A climate expert explains why Australia is ridiculously hot right now