Rudd Ratifies Kyoto Protocol

4 December 2007
Australia's Labor leader Kevin Rudd was sworn in as Prime Minister on 3 December, promising to urgently sign the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.
But Rudd said that the country was likely to miss its Kyoto target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2012.
Australia's decision to sign Kyoto isolates the United States, which will now be the only developed nation not to ratify the agreement that sets binding limits on developed countries to curb carbon emissions which are blamed for global warming.
Rudd said he wants the Kyoto ratification process to be well advanced by early next week when he will lead Australia's delegation to the UN summit in Bali where negotiations will start new pollution targets beyond 2012.
Welcoming the announcement, National Association of Forest Industries (NAFI) CEO Catherine Murphy said the rules adopted for the forestry industry under the Kyoto Protocol did nor, however, recognise the full benefit of the forestry sector in providing a solution to climate change.
“I look forward to working with the Prime Minister and Government ministers in developing the post-Kyoto framework to ensure the full value of the benefits of forestry in addressing climate change are recognised,” Mrs Murphy said.

NAFI at Bali Climate Change Talks

The National Association of Forest Industries’ (NAFI) CEO Catherine Murphy and deputy Allan Hansard are among members of the official Australian delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meeting in Bali.
They are representing the interests of the Australian forest industry to promote the benefits of sustainable forest management as a key activity in addressing climate change.
The 14-day Bali meetings started on 3 December.
“The meetings are important, not only for how the Australian and international forest industry is positioned in a post-Kyoto framework, but also on the impacts for the future direction of domestic climate change policy,” Mrs Murphy said.
“We will ensure that all parties at the convention understand that sustainable forest management is the key to addressing deforestation and illegal logging in developing countries. Sustainable forest management maintains forest cover, retains the traditional community links with the forests and delivers positive carbon outcomes.”
NAFI is working to ensure that programs such as the Federal Government’s Global Initiative on Forests and Climate include projects that will empower communities with the skills and capacity to manage their forests in a sustainable way
“NAFI looks forward to working with Prime Minister Rudd, ministers and other parties in developing a roadmap to climate change solutions,” Mrs Murphy said.

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