Publication
Road to COP29: Our insights
The 28th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP28) took place on November 30 - December 12 in Dubai.
Author:
Australia | Publication | May 2022
The WGII Report contained an entire chapter on Australasia as part of its regional assessments of ecosystems and biodiversity, and humans and their diverse societies. That chapter described how climate change is bringer hotter temperatures, more droughts and floods, more dangerous fire weather, higher sea levels, and reinforces what many Australians have experienced over the past two years following particularly devastating bushfires and floods on the east coast.
Climate trends and extreme events have had major impacts on many natural systems, with some experiencing or at risk of irreversible change.5
The authors are also clear about the impact climate change is having on humans, such as:
The nine key risks to Australasia identified by the IPCC are summarised is this fact sheet from WGII.
Looking ahead, ongoing warming is projected with consequent sea-level rise and ocean acidification. More extreme fire and drought conditions are predicted in southern and eastern Australia. It is projected that climate risks will increase for a wide range of systems, exacerbated by underlying vulnerabilities. Some of these key risks included the loss of coral reefs, loss of alpine biodiversity, declines in agricultural production due to hotter and drier conditions, and an increase in heat-related mortality and morbidity for people and wildlife due to increased heatwaves.
The reports do provide some hope in the form of a range of incremental and transformative options available, as long as enablers are in place to implement them. Key enablers include shifting from reactive to anticipatory planning, government leadership, coordination across all levels of government and sectors, nationally consistent and accessible information, adaptation funding and finance, and strategic policy commitment. IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee said during the press release of WGIII that “we are at a crossroads…we have the tools and know-how required to limit warming”. If effective policies, regulations, and market instruments are scaled up, they can support deep emissions reduction and stimulate innovation.
At the recent UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5), 175 nations endorsed a historic resolution to End Plastic Pollution and forge an international legally binding agreement by 2024. The resolution addresses the full lifecycle of plastic including its production, design, and disposal. The Executive Director of UNEP describes this resolution as the “most significant environmental multilateral deal since the Paris Accord”.7 Other resolutions agreed to at UNEA-5 focused on sustainable lake management, nature-based solutions to support sustainable development, and enhancing the circular economy.
We are an acknowledged leader in climate change and sustainability, with deep experience of assisting our clients to navigate the evolving patchwork of international policy and regulation in the areas of climate change and sustainability, ESG and sustainable finance, led by Elisa de Wit.
Our global multidisciplinary team works with clients to navigate continually evolving climate change and sustainability policies and regulations across the globe, identifying and exploiting the significant opportunities presented, as well as mitigating and managing risks.
This update was compiled by our Pro Bono Team in Australia. Environment and Sustainability is one of the key pillars of our pro bono strategy. Please contact Chris Owen, Partner and Pro Bono Team leader is you would like to discuss climate change issues for you or your business.
The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of Kelsey Gray to this article.
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