ABSTRACT

Common But Differentiated? Australia’s Response to Global Climate Change

By Rosemary Lyster

This article discusses Australia’s policies with regard to the Kyoto Protocol. Australia initially obtained favorable emissions targets under the Protocol, but then refused to ratify it. The author examines the reasons behind the Australian position. Critical of the government’s “no-regrets” policy that the government claims will reduce greenhouse emissions to targets without ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, the author argues that the government’s position favors narrow industrial interests within the country and documents criticisms of the government’s policies as well as the views of various interest groups. After exploring various initiatives taken at the state and local level to reduce greenhouse emissions, the article concludes that it is doubtful that current policies can meaningfully reduce the country’s overall greenhouse emissions.