Howard government understood climate risks despite Kyoto stance

“During the 20th century the magnitude of observed average temperature increase in Australia was greater than observed globally,” the submission reads.

“The magnitude of climate change in Australia, combined with marginal rainfall in many of our key agricultural areas and a heavy reliance on irrigation, is likely to make Australia more vulnerable to climate change than most developed countries, including the United States and many European countries.”

Australia signed the Kyoto Protocol in 1998 but ultimately chose not to ratify it under the coalition government led by John Howard, citing potential economic disadvantage compared with major emitters such as the United States and China.

The report said Australia was on track to meet its Kyoto protocol target of 108 per cent of 1990 by 2012, with projections that greenhouse gas emissions would be at 123 per cent of 1990 levels by 2020.

It urged cabinet to continue to work with the international community to develop a robust and comprehensive global response to climate change that was environmentally effective, economically efficient and did not impose an unfair burden on Australia.

Ruddock’s remarks suggest the cabinet’s decision not to ratify Kyoto was not due to ignorance of the science, but a considered political judgment about Australia’s negotiating position and obligations.

“I’ve always been of the view that the world is going to address it. But we need to be ensuring that Australia plays its part,” he said.

“If you look at the events that we’ve seen tragically in NSW over this last week, it’s made [clear], I think, the importance of reviewing these documents and ensuring that those who are considering these issues today are cognisant of the material that was available to the Howard government,” he said.