ParallelReportsubmittedby

GlobalInitiativeforEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights

OxfamAustralia

CenterforInternationalEnvironmentalLaw

totheCommitteeontheEliminationofDiscrimination

AgainstWomen

ontheoccasionoftheconsiderationofthe8thPeriodicReportofAustraliaduringthe

Committee’s70thSession,2–20July2018

Submitted11June2018

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1. SubmittingorganisationsThisParallelReportissubmittedtotheCommitteeontheEliminationofDiscriminationAgainstWomenjointlybythefollowingorganisations:

GlobalInitiativeforEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights(GI-ESCR)GIESCRisaninternationalnon-governmentalhumanrightsorganizationwhichseekstoadvancetherealizationofeconomic,socialandculturalrightsthroughouttheworld,tacklingtheendemicproblemofglobalpovertythroughahumanrightslens.

OxfamAustraliaOxfamAustraliaisanindependent,not-for-profit,seculardevelopmentagencywhosevisionisofajustworldwithoutpoverty.OxfamAustraliaundertakeslong-termdevelopmentprograms;providesemergencyresponse;andconductsresearch,advocacyandcampaignstoadvancetherightsofpoorandmarginalisedpeople,includingwomen,andworkswiththemtoachieveequality.

CenterforInternationalEnvironmentalLaw

TheCenterforInternationalEnvironmentalLaw(CIEL)usesthepoweroflawtoprotecttheenvironment,promotehumanrights,andensureajustandsustainablesociety.

2. IntroductionTheadverseimpactsofclimatechangeconstituteoneofthemostsignificantglobalthreatsfortheenjoymentofhumanrights–especiallytherightsprotectedundertheInternationalConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationAgainstWomen(ICEDAW).Themagnitudeoftheseimpactswillkeepincreasingastemperaturescontinuetorise–governmentsmustthereforeensurethattheyreduceemissionsofgreenhousegasesinamannerthatpreventsmoredangerouslevelsoftemperatureincreaseandavoidstheveryseriousthreatstohumanrights.

InajointreporttotheUNClimateChangeprocess,severalUNSpecialRapporteurstotheHumanRightsCouncilhighlightedthegravehumanrightsharmthatwillbecausedbyevenatwodegreeCelsiusincreaseinaverageglobaltemperaturesandthatthereforehumanrightslegalobligationsrequirethatStatestakeactionstomitigatethecausesofclimatechangesoastolimittheincreaseinglobalaveragetemperaturetoamaximumof1.5ºC.1

IntheParisAgreementStatescommittedtotakeemissionsreductionmeasurestokeepglobaltemperaturerises‘wellbelow2°C’andtopursueeffortstolimitto1.5°C2,recognizingthatthiswouldsignificantlyreducetherisksandimpactsofclimatechange.Suchemissionsreductionscanonlybeachievedifemissionsfromfossilfuelaresignificantlyreducedandifthemajorityofthefossilfuelsreservesremainunexploited.3Achievingtheseemissionsreductionstargetsrequire,inparticular,thephasingoutofcoalextractionandconsumption,sinceitisthemostcarbonintensivesourceofenergy.

1TheEffectsofClimateChangeontheFullEnjoymentofHumanRights,JointpaperbyfivemandateholdersoftheHRC(2015),availableathttp://www4.unfccc.int/Submissions/Lists/OSPSubmissionUpload/202_109_130758775867568762-CVF%20submission%20Annex%201_Human%20Rights.pdf2ParisAgreement,Article2.1.a3SeeMcGlade,C.,&Ekins,P.(2015).Thegeographicaldistributionoffossilfuelsunusedwhenlimitingglobalwarmingto2[deg]C.Nature,517(7533),187-190

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AustraliaratifiedtheParisAgreementon9November2016andcommitted,throughitsfirstNationallyDeterminedContribution(NDC),toatargetof26to28percentreduction(from2005levels)ofgreenhousegasemissionsby2030,includinglanduse,landusechangeandforestry(LULUCF).Australiaisasignificantglobalemitterofgreenhousegases(GHGs).Whilehometoonly0.3%oftheworld’spopulation,itisresponsibleforabout1.4%ofglobalemissions.In2016itspercapitaemissionsamountedto17.22metrictonsofCO2eq,givingitaglobalrankingof10thbehindtheoilrichGulfcountriesandCanadaandLuxembourg.4Australiathuscontributestosevereclimaterelatedimpactswithin,andespeciallyoutside,thecountry,sinceGHGsemittedanywhere,contributetoglobalwarmingeverywhere.Furthermore,thesefiguresdonotaccountfortheemissionsfromtheburningofcoalthatisminedinAustraliaandexported.Toputthisinperspective,emissionsfromtheburningofAustraliancoaloverseasamounttoaroundtwiceAustralia’stotaldomesticemissions.5

ThisjointParallelReportaddressestheICEDAWobligationsofAustraliawithrespecttoitsclimatechangecommitmentsandactions.Inparticular,itfocuseson:

• Australia’sinsufficientgoalsandtargetsforaglobalstrategytostaywellbelowglobaltemperatureincreasesof2°Candtostrivetolimitto1.5°C;

• Australia’sinsufficientpoliciestomeetitsweaktargets;

• Australia’scontinuingsupportforcoal,mostnotablycoalexports.

3. Climatechangeandwomen’shumanrightsItisclearthattheconsequencesofclimatechangewillhavesignificantadverseimpactsonhumanrights,includingtherightsprotectedbytheICEDAW.TheIPCC’sFifthAssessmentreportstated:‘futureimpactsofclimatechange,extendingfromtheneartermtothelongterm,mostlyexpecting2°Cscenarios,willslowdowneconomicgrowthandpovertyreduction,furthererodefoodsecurity,andtriggernewpovertytraps,thelatterparticularlyinurbanareasandemerginghotspotsofhunger.’6Inhis2016reporttheSpecialRapporteuronhumanrightsandtheenvironmentstatedthat‘climatechangethreatensthefullenjoymentofawiderangeofrights,includingtherightstolife,health,water,food,housing,developmentandself-determination’7.

Itisalsowelldocumentedthattheimpactsofclimatechangearenotgenderneutral.8Theeffectsofclimatechangearefeltmostacutelybythosesegmentsofthepopulationthatarealreadyinvulnerablesituations9.TheIPCCFifthAssessmentreportnoted:‘Peoplewhoaresocially,economically,culturally,politically,institutionallyorotherwisemarginalizedareespeciallyvulnerable

4http://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/booklet2017/countries/AUS.pdf5Greenpeace,‘ExportingClimateChange,KillingtheReef’(April2016)https://www.greenpeace.org.au/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Exporting-climate-change-killing-the-reef.pdf6IPCCWorkingGroupII,ClimateChange2014:Impacts,Adaptation,andVulnerability,p.796.7A/HRC/31/52-ReportoftheSpecialRapporteurontheissueofhumanrightsobligationsrelatingtotheenjoymentofasafe,clean,healthyandsustainableenvironment,February2016.ibid.8UNCommitteeontheEliminationofDiscriminationAgainstWomen,GeneralRecommendationNo.37‘thegender-relateddimensionsofdisasterriskreductioninthecontextofclimatechange’,(2018)UNDocCEDAW/C/GC/37;OxfamAustralia,‘UprootedbyClimateChange:Respondingtothegrowingriskofdisplacement‘,(Nov2017)pp30-31.Accessiblehere:https://www.oxfam.org/en/research/uprooted-climate-change9HumanRightsCouncil,30June2015,A/HRC/29/L.21,http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/E/HRC/d_res_dec/A_HRC_29_L21.docx;IPCCFifthAssessmentSynthesisReport(2014)

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toclimatechangeandalsotosomeadaptationandmitigationresponses.’10Womenarefrequentlymorevulnerableduetopre-existing,intersectingdiscriminationandgenderedrolesandstereotypes.Womenwillsuffertheimpactsdisproportionately-morefrequentlyandmoreseverelythanmen-inpartbecausetheymakeupthevastmajorityoftheworld’spoor,theyaremoredependentfortheirlivelihoodonnaturalresourcesthatarethreatenedbyclimatechange,theyhaveunequalaccesstoresourcesanddecision-makingprocessesandtheyoftenhavelimitedmobility11.

Forexample,waterscarcitymeanstravellingincreasingdistancestocollectheavywaterloads.Notonlyisthisphysicallydamaging,itisalsotime-consumingandthereforereduceswomen’sabilitytoparticipateinincome-generatingactivitiesandeducation,furtherlimitingopportunitiesforgenderequality.12

Wealsoknowthatwomenaremorevulnerabletothenegativeimpactsofdisasters,whichwillbecomemoreandmorefrequentasaconsequenceofclimatechange.13Inclimate-induceddisasters,suchastropicalstorms,flooding,heatwavesandfires,womenweremorelikelytodiethanmen.14Further,boththeWorldBankandtheUNDevelopmentProgramhavewarnedthatdevelopmentandpovertyreductioneffortswillbeseriouslyunderminedasaconsequenceofunabatedclimatechange.Notonlyarewomenandgirlscommonlythepoorest,orthelasttoreapadvantagesfromdevelopmentandpovertyreductionefforts,butclimatechangerisksundoinghard-wondevelopmentgainsandprogresstowardsgenderequality.15

TheCEDAWCommitteehasalsohighlightedthedisproportionateimpactsonwomeninitsnewGeneralRecommendationon‘thegender-relateddimensionsofdisasterriskreductioninthecontextofclimatechange’:

‘Women,girls,menandboysareaffecteddifferentlybyclimatechangeanddisasters,withmanywomenandgirlsexperiencinggreaterrisks,burdensandimpacts.16Situationsofcrisisexacerbatepre-existinggenderinequalitiesandcompoundtheintersectingformsof

10IPCCWorkingGroupII,ClimateChange2014:Impacts,Adaptation,andVulnerability,SummaryforPolicymakers,p.6.11UNWomenWatchFactSheet‘Women,GenderEqualityandClimateChange’,(2009),accessiblehere:http://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/climate_change/downloads/Women_and_Climate_Change_Factsheet.pdf12GeorgetownInstituteforWomen,PeaceandDevelopment,‘WomenandClimateChange:ImpactandAgencyinHumanRights,Security,andEconomicDevelopment’(2015),accessiblehere:https://www.climateinvestmentfunds.org/sites/default/files/knowledge-documents/georgetown_women_and_climate_change_2015.pdf13UNDP,IssueBrief‘Gender,AdaptationandDisasterRiskReduction’,(2016),accessiblehere:http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/womens-empowerment/gender-and-climate-change.html;GeorgetownInstituteforWomen,PeaceandDevelopment,‘WomenandClimateChange:ImpactandAgencyinHumanRights,Security,andEconomicDevelopment’(2015),accessiblehere:https://www.climateinvestmentfunds.org/sites/default/files/knowledge-documents/georgetown_women_and_climate_change_2015.pdf14EricNeumayer,ThomasPlümper(2007).TheGenderedNatureofNaturalDisasters:TheImpactofCatastrophicEventsontheGenderGapinLifeExpectancy,1981–2002.TheLondonSchoolofEconomicsandPoliticalScience.AnnalsoftheAssociationofAmericanGeographers,97(3).pp.551-566.Accessiblehere:http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/3040/1/Gendered_nature_of_natural_disasters_(LSERO).pdf;InternationalUnionfortheConservationofNature,‘DisasterandGenderStatisticsFactSheet’,accessiblehere:https://www.unisdr.org/files/48152_disasterandgenderstatistics.pdf15WorldBankGroup,‘Shockwaves:Managingtheimpactsofclimatechangeonpoverty’(2016).Accessiblehere:https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/22787/9781464806735.pdfTheWorldBankGroup‘TurnDowntheHeat:ConfrontingtheNewClimateNormal’(2014),WashingtonDC,especiallypp24,28,40&228-235.Accessiblehere:https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/2059516SeeCommissionontheStatusofWomen,resolutions56/2and58/2ongenderequalityandtheempowermentofwomeninnaturaldisasters,adoptedbyconsensusinMarch2012andMarch2014.

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discriminationagainst,amongothers,womenlivinginpoverty,indigenouswomen,womenbelongingtoethnic,racial,religiousandsexualminoritygroups,womenwithdisabilities,refugeeandasylum-seekingwomen,internallydisplaced,statelessandmigrantwomen,ruralwomen,unmarriedwomen,adolescentsandolderwomen,whoareoftendisproportionatelyaffectedcomparedwithmenorotherwomen.’17

‘genderinequalitieslimitthecontrolthatwomenandgirlshaveoverdecisionsgoverningtheirlives,aswellastheiraccesstoresourcessuchasfood,water,agriculturalinput,land,credit,energy,technology,education,healthservices,adequatehousing,socialprotectionandemployment.Asaresultofthoseinequalities,womenandgirlsaremorelikelytobeexposedtodisaster-inducedrisksandlossesrelatingtotheirlivelihoods,andtheyarelessabletoadapttochangesinclimaticconditions.’18

Thesedisproportionateimpactsonwomenwillincreasetheirsubstantiveinequalityinrespectoftheirhumanrightstofood,water,sanitation,housing,healthandlife.Astheimpactsofclimatechangeworsen,women’senjoymentoftheirrightswillbeunderminedmorefrequentlyandmoreseverelythanmen.Theinevitableresultofunabatedclimatechangeisthefurtherimpoverishmentofwomenand,particularlyforthepoorestwomenandwomenindevelopingcountries,progressonsubstantiveequalitywillgobackwards.

4. ClimatechangeandStateobligationsundertheInternationalConventionontheEliminationofAllformsofDiscriminationAgainstWomen

TheseforeseeableadverseimpactsonwomenenlivenStates’obligationsundertheICEDAWtopreventharmtowomen’srights.19TheSpecialRapporteuronhumanrightsandtheenvironmenthasunderlinedthat:‘TheforeseeableadverseeffectsofclimatechangeontheenjoymentofhumanrightsgiverisetodutiesofStatestotakeactionstoprotectagainstthoseeffects.Humanrightsobligationsapplynotonlytodecisionsabouthowmuchclimateprotectiontopursue,butalsotothemitigationandadaptationmeasuresthroughwhichtheprotectionisachieved.20’

TheCEDAWCommitteehasclarifiedStateobligations:

‘theCommitteehasunderlinedthatStatespartiesandotherstakeholdershaveobligationstotakespecificstepstoaddressdiscriminationagainstwomeninthefieldsofdisasterriskreductionandclimatechange,throughtheadoptionoftargetedlaws,policies,mitigationandadaptationstrategies,budgetsandothermeasures.’21

InrelationtoStatemitigationobligations,theCommitteestated:

‘Limitingfossilfueluseandgreenhousegasemissionsandtheharmfulenvironmentaleffectsofextractiveindustriessuchasminingandfracking,andtheallocationofclimatefinancing,

17UNCommitteeontheEliminationofDiscriminationAgainstWomen,GeneralRecommendationNo.37’thegender-relateddimensionsofdisasterriskreductioninthecontextofclimatechange’,(2018)UNDocCEDAW/C/GC/37,paragraph2.18Ibid.paragraph3.19HumanRightsCouncil,AnalyticalStudyatparagraphs32and4820A/HRC/25/5321CEDAWGeneralRecommendation#37,paragraph8.

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areregardedascrucialstepsinmitigatingthenegativehumanrightsimpactsofclimatechangeanddisasters.’22

Specifically,CEDAWrecommendsthatStates:

‘Takeeffectivestepstoequitablymanagesharednaturalresources,inparticularwater,andlimitcarbonemissions,fossilfueluse,deforestation,near-surfacepermafrostdegradation,soildegradationandtransboundarypollution,includingthedumpingoftoxicwaste,andallotherenvironmental,technologicalandbiologicalhazardsandrisksthatcontributetoclimatechangeanddisasters,whichtendtodisproportionatelynegativelyaffectwomenandgirls’23

CEDAWhasalsomadeitclearthatStates’Conventionobligationsextendtoimpactsoftheiractionsontherightsofwomenoutsidetheirterritory.TheGeneralRecommendationNo.37confirms:

‘StatespartieshaveobligationsbothwithinandoutsidetheirterritoriestoensurethefullimplementationoftheConvention,includingintheareasofdisasterriskreductionandclimatechangemitigationandadaptation.’24

Therefore,asaStatePartytotheICEDAW,AustraliahasConventionobligationstotakestepstoavoidcontributingtoclimatechangeanditsdisproportionateadverseimpactsonwomenbothinAustraliaandabroad.Thosestepsincludepursuingstrongmitigationpoliciesandlimitingcarbonemissionsandfossilfueluse.

5. Australia’sclimatechangecommitmentsandtargetsInadequacyofAustralia’semissionstargets

Australiahascommittedtoatargetof26to28percentreduction(from2005levels)ofgreenhousegasemissionsby2030,includinglanduse,landusechangeandforestry(LULUCF).AnalystsexplainthatthelevelofambitionofAustralia’stargets‘iffollowedbyallothercountries—wouldleadtoglobalwarmingofover2°Candupto3°C.Inaddition,ifallothercountriesweretofollowAustralia’scurrentpolicysettings,warmingcouldreachover3°Candupto4°C.’25

ClimateexpertsinAustraliaalsoagreethatthecurrenttargetsareinadequateforAustraliatomeetitsParisAgreementcommitments.Forinstance,theAustralianClimateChangeAuthorityrecommendsa2030targetofbetween45-65percenton2005levelsforAustraliatocontributeitsequitablesharetolimitglobalwarmingto2degrees.26Contributinganequitableshareofglobaleffortstowardslimitingwarmingto1.5°Cwouldrequireastillstronger2030target.

Accordingtotheinternational‘ClimateChangePerformanceIndex’27for2018Australiaisranked57th(‘verylowperforming’-outof59countriesandtheEU):

22CEDAWGeneralRecommendation#37,paragraph14.23CEDAWGeneralRecommendation#37,paragraph46(a).24CEDAWGeneralRecommendation#37,paragraph43.25ClimateTracker,http://climateactiontracker.org/countries/australia.html26ClimateChangeAuthority,‘ReducingAustralia'sgreenhousegasemissions:Targetsandprogressreview’,(2014)Melbourne.27TheClimateChangePerformanceIndex-Onthebasisofstandardisedcriteria,theindexevaluatesandcomparestheclimateprotectionperformanceof56countriesandtheEU,whicharetogetherresponsibleformorethan90percentofglobalgreenhousegas(GHG)emissions.

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‘Expertsemphasizetheneedtostrengthenthecountry’s2030targetsespeciallyintermsofemissionsreductionandrenewableenergyanddemandthattheirgovernmentsufficientlyimplementcrediblepoliciesformeetingthesetargets.’28

Australiashouldincreasetheambitionofitsclimatechangetargetsanditsclimateandenergypoliciestoensurethatitisdoingitsfairshareofrequiredglobalemissionsreductions.Thisshouldincludelegislatedtargetsforemissionsreductionandcleanenergyonthebasisof100%renewableenergyby2030andzeroemissionsbefore2040.

Australia’semissionstrends–incompatiblewithitsmitigationtargets

Incontrasttoalmostallotherdevelopedcountries,29Australia’sabsoluteemissionsareincreasing.30TheAustralianDepartmentoftheEnvironmentandEnergy’slatestNationalGreenhouseGasInventoryreportshowsthatin2017,AustralianemissionsfortheyeartoDecember2017increased1.5percentonthepreviousyear,thethirdyearlyconsecutiveincrease.31

Underpresentpolicysettings,Australia’semissionsareprojectedtoincreasefrom2005levels(excl.LULUCF)6%by2020and9%by2030.32ThiswouldmeanthatAustraliawouldnotachieveits2030target,(containedinitsNationallyDeterminedContribution),atargetwhichisitselfregardedbyanalystsasawoefullyinadequatecontributiontotheParisAgreement(seeabove).

Accordingtointernationalanalysts,‘Australia’scurrentpoliciesin2017arenotconsistentwithholdingwarmingtobelow2°C,letalonelimitingitto1.5°CasrequiredundertheParisAgreement,andareinsteadconsistentwithwarmingbetween3°Cand4°C’33.

BoththeUNEnvironmentProgramme34andtheInternationalEnergyAgencyalsoconsiderthatAustralia’spoliciesarenotsufficienttoachieveismodestParisAgreementtargets:

WhileAustraliaisontracktomeetits2020targetbyoffsettingreductionsinothersectors,after2020,however,emissionsarelikelytoriseto592MtCO2-eq.in2030,withprojectedeconomicgrowthandintheabsenceofadditionalpolicies.’35

28JanBurck,FranziskaMarten,ChristophBals,NiklasHöhne,‘ClimateChangePerformanceIndex:Results2018’,November2017,p7;SeeSummaryforAustraliahere:https://www.climate-change-performance-index.org/country/australia29AccordingtoTheAustraliaInstitute,AustraliaandTurkeyaretheonlydevelopednationsinwhichemissionsarerising.TheAustraliaInstitute,September2017‘Climateoutliers:AustraliaandTurkeytheonlydevelopednationsbreakingemissionsrecords’,http://www.tai.org.au/content/climate-outliers-australia-and-turkey-only-developed-nations-breaking-emissions-records30SeedatafromAustralia’sNationalGreenhouseGasInventory:http://ageis.climatechange.gov.au/NGGI.aspxDataisalsoavailablefromtheEuropeanCommissionEmissionsDatabaseforGlobalAtmosphericEmissionshere:http://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/overview.php?v=CO2andGHG1970-2016&dst=CO2pc&sort=des9.AndfromtheWorldBankhere:https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.ATM.CO2E.PC?locations=AU&view=map31AustralianGovernmentDepartmentofEnvironmentandEnergy,‘QuarterlyUpdateofAustralia'sNationalGreenhouseGasInventory:December2017’,http://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/climate-science-data/greenhouse-gas-measurement/publications/quarterly-update-australias-national-greenhouse-gas-inventory-dec-2017.32ClimateActionTracker,http://climateactiontracker.org/countries/australia.htmlaccessed23May201833ClimateActionTracker,https://climateactiontracker.org/countries/australia/fair-share/accessed23May201834UNEnvironmentProgramme,‘EmissionsGapReport:2017:AUNEnvironmentSynthesisReport’(Nov2017),Nairobi,p20,23.35InternationalEnergyAgency,‘EnergyPoliciesofIEACountries:Australia2018Review’,p191.Accessiblehere:http://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/EnergyPoliciesofIEACountriesAustralia2018Review.pdf

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Consideringthemagnitudeoftheeconomicandsocietalrestructuringrequiredtoachievescience-basedemissionsreductions,governmentsmustdeveloplong-termandcomprehensiveclimatepoliciestosetaframeworkdirectingallactorsundertheirjurisdictiontocontributetotheprogressivedecarbonizationofsociety.IntheParisAgreement,allgovernmentshaveexplicitlycommittedto‘formulateandcommunicatelong-termlowgreenhousegasemissiondevelopmentstrategies,mindfulofArticle2’.36Australiahasyettobegintheprocessofdevelopingsuchalong-termvisionforitsenergyandclimatepolicies.

6. Australia’scoalconsumptionandexportsCoalisthebiggestsourceofgreenhousegasemissions.Allscenariosconsistentwithkeepingglobaltemperatureincreasestobelow2°C,requirethedecarbonisationofthepowersectorandaphase-outofcoal.37Australiaistheworld’s4thlargestproducerofcoal,withthemajorityofitbeingexported.38Australia’srelianceoncoalfordomesticelectricitygenerationisdecliningasrenewableenergyoptionsbecomemoreaffordableandthiswillimpactAustralia’sdirectemissions.However,Australiacontinuestoexportapproximately400milliontonnesofcoaleachyear,whichiscontributingsignificantlytoglobalcarbonpollution.InAustralia:

‘Coalisalsothelargestenergysource,accountingfor34%oftotalprimaryenergysupplyand63%ofelectricitygeneration.Whiletheshareofcoalinelectricitygenerationhasdeclinedinthepastdecade,coalproductionasashareoftotalenergyproductionisincreasing,asAustraliaisamajorandgrowingcoalproducerandworld-leadingexporter.’39

TheAustraliangovernmentiscontinuingtopromotecoalfordomesticenergyconsumptionandexports,mostinfamouslythroughitssupportforthehugeAdaniCarmichaelcoalmineinQueensland.FederalResourcesMinister,MrMattCanavan,recentlysaidthatthecoalminingindustrywillcontinuetobeanimportantpartofAustralia’sfutureandAustraliadoesnotneedtoprepareforacoaltransition.Hehasestablishedanew‘2030ResourcesTaskforce’whosemandateistobolsterthecaseforcoalinAustraliaand‘ensurethecompetitivenessandlongevityofAustralia’s

36ParisAgreementonClimateChange(2015),article4.19.37UNEnvironmentProgramme,‘TheEmissionsGapReport2017–Bridgingthegap–Phasingoutcoal’,(2017)Nairobi,p38-3938InternationalEnergyAgency,‘EnergyPoliciesofIEACountries:Australia2018Review’,p176.Accessible:http://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/EnergyPoliciesofIEACountriesAustralia2018Review.pdf39InternationalEnergyAgency,op.cit.,p176

‘Australia’scurrentpoliciesfallfarshortoftheemissionsreductionsrequiredtomeetthe2030targetputforwardinitsNDC.Undercurrentpoliciesinplace,Australia’stotalGHGemissionsexcl.LULUCFareprojectedtoriseto533MtCO2eby2020and548

MtCO2eby2030.Thisisequivalenttoanincreaseinemissionsfrom2005levels(excl.LULUCF)of6%and9%by2020and2030respectively(whencomparedto1990levels

(excl.LULUCF)thisresultsinanincreaseof33%and37%respectively).Tomeetits2030emissionstargets,Australianemissionsshoulddecreasebyanaverageannualrateof1.3to1.5percentuntil2030;instead,withcurrentpolicies,theyaresettoincreasebyan

averageannualrateof0.4%peryear.’Source:ClimateActionTracker-Australia

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resourcessectorinthefaceofcriticismfromthoseconcernedabouttheimpactofcontinuedexploitationoffossilfuels’.40

AccordingtoAdamWaltersofEnergyResourceInsights,Australiaexportsapproximately1billiontonnesofcarbondioxideperyearincoal,gasandoilexports,makingittheworld’sthirdbiggestexporterofcarbonpollution.41AccordingtoGreenpeace,‘inadditiontonotreducingAustralia’sdomesticCO2emissionssince1990,coalexportvolumeshavemorethantripledinthesameperiodto400milliontonnesperannum’and‘witheveryAustraliantonneofcoalemitting2.5tonnesofCO2onaveragewhereveritisused,thismeansAustralia’sCO2exportsthroughcoalhaveincreasedbyamassive253%since1990.’42

ArgumentsfromtheAustralianGovernmentandcoalindustrythatAustralia’scoalexportsareessentialtoraisinglivingstandardsindevelopingcountrieshavebeenforcefullychallengedbydevelopmentagenciesincludingOxfam,whohavestressednotonlytheimpactsofcoalandclimatechangeontheworld’spoorestcommunitiesbutalsothedistinctadvantagesofrenewableenergysourcesovercoalandotherfossilfuelsinincreasingenergyaccess,upholdingwomen’srightsandreducinginequality.43

AnalysisofglobalcarbonbudgetspreparedbytheIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange(IPCC)showsthatachievingthe1.5°Cgoalwillrequiretheveryrapiddecarbonisationoftheglobaleconomy.Itwouldonlytakeanotherfewyearsofcurrentglobalcarbonpollutiontoexhaustabudgetthatprovidesafair(66%)probabilityoflimitingwarmingto1.5°C.44Inotherwords,globalcarbonpollutionwillneedtobegindecliningveryrapidlyandreachzerointhecomingdecades.Toremainwithinaglobalcarbonbudgetthatprovidesa50%chanceoflimitingwarmingto2°C,80%oftheworld’sknowncoalreserves—includingover90%ofAustralia’scoalreserves—wouldneedtoremainunburned.45Toensureastrongchanceoflimitingwarmingto1.5°Candavoidingtheseriousdamagetowomen’srightsnotedabove,theavailablecarbonbudgetisconsiderablysmallerandverynearlyexhausted.Thereforelimitingwarmingto1.5°Cmeansnospacefornewcoal.46Opening-upnewcoalreservesinAustraliaisincompatiblewithavoidingafutureofmoredangerousclimatechange,andwouldriskincreasingdangersandhardshipsforpoorwomenaroundtheworld.Australiamustimmediatelyputinplacepoliciestophaseoutcoalbothfordomesticuseandforexports.47

40http://minister.industry.gov.au/ministers/canavan/speeches/speech-national-press-club-long-mining-boom;TheWestAustralian,‘MinisterMattCanavan’sresourcestaskforcetoboostthecaseforcoal’,28May2018,https://thewest.com.au/business/mining/minister-matt-canavans-resources-task-force-to-boost-the-case-for-coal-ng-b88788473z41http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-14/coal-industry-in-transition/964481242Greenpeace,‘ExportingClimateChange,KillingtheReef’(April2016)https://www.greenpeace.org.au/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Exporting-climate-change-killing-the-reef.pdf43OxfamAustralia,‘MoreCoalEqualsMorePoverty:Transformingourworldthroughrenewableenergy’(May2017).https://www.oxfam.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/More-Coal-Equals-More-Poverty.pdf44Analysis:JustFourYearsLeftofthe1.5CCarbonBudget(CarbonBrief,April2017)https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-four-years-left-one-point-five-carbon-budget45ChristopherMcGlade&PaulEkins,‘TheGeographicDistributionofFossilFuelsUnusedWhenLimitingGlobalWarmingto2°C’,Nature,January2015.http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v517/n7533/abs/nature14016.html46OxfamAustralia,‘MoreCoalEqualsMorePoverty:Transformingourworldthroughrenewableenergy’(May2017).Accessiblehere:https://www.oxfam.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/More-Coal-Equals-More-Poverty.pdf47UNEnvironmentProgramme,‘TheEmissionsGapReport2017–Bridgingthegap–Phasingoutcoal’,(2017)Nairobi,p44.

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7. Australia’srenewableenergypoliciesConsideringthattheelectricitysectoristhelargestsourceofAustralia’sdomesticemissions,anycrediblestrategyfortacklingAustralia’scontributiontoclimatechangemustincluderapidlyacceleratingAustralia’stransitiontorenewableenergy.DespiteAustralia’sabundantrenewableenergypotentialandtheco-benefitsofrenewablesinreducingenergycosts,creatingnewjobs,andprovidinglong-termenergysecurity,Australia’snationalpoliciesonrenewableenergyarediscouraging.

The‘RenewableEnergyTarget’(RET)commitsAustraliatoatleast33,000gigawatt-hoursofenergyintheelectricitysectortocomefromrenewables,by2020.Thisisequivalenttoabout23.5%ofAustralia’selectricitygeneration.TheFederalGovernmentreducedtheRETin2015(from41,000GWh)andsignificantlycutfundingtothemainrenewableenergybody(theAustralianRenewableEnergyAgency-ARENA)inSeptember2016andhascriticizedStategovernmentsforsettingtheirownrenewableenergytargets.48

DespiteactionbyStatesandTerritoriestosetmoreambitiousandlong-termemissionsreductionandrenewableenergytargets,theFederalgovernmenthasfailedtoputinplaceacrediblepolicypost-2020,toencouragerenewableenergygeneration.Itrejectedthekeyrecommendationofthegovernmentappointed‘FinkelReview’:toestablisha‘CleanEnergyTarget’toencouragenewlowemissionsenergygenerationaftertheendoftheRETin2020.49

Insteadthegovernmenthasproposedthe‘NationalEnergyGuarantee’(NEG)whichhasbeendescribedaswoefullyinadequatetomeetevenAustralia’sexistingandveryweak2030targetundertheParisAgreement,inparticularasofferinglittletoencourageinvestmentinrenewableenergy.

Arecentreportfoundthatthegovernment’sproposedNationalEnergyGuaranteerisksderailingAustralia’sboomingrenewableenergyandstoragesector.50ItwillstifleinvestmentinthecleanenergysectorandunderminethemoreambitiousrenewableenergyandemissionsreductiongoalssetbythemajorityoftheAustralianStatesandTerritories.

‘Inessence,theNEGwouldlockintheelectricitysectortoaninadequate26%targetuntil2030,andensurethecontinuedoperationofnearlyallpollutingcoalandgaspowerplantsforatleasttwodecades.’51

Astheopportunitiesforreducingemissionswithintheelectricitysectoraregreaterthanforothersectorsoftheeconomy,theNEGshouldsetatargetforemissionsreductionsfromtheelectricitysectorthatissignificantlyhigherthanAustralia’seconomy-wideemissionstarget.Atargettoreduceemissionsfromtheelectricitysectorbyonly26%by2030isthereforeaninadequatecontributiontoachievingevenAustralia’sexistingandveryweakeconomy-wideemissionsreductiontargetof26-28%by2030.

48https://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/policy-advocacy/renewable-energy-target.htmlhttps://theconversation.com/australian-renewable-energy-agency-saved-but-with-reduced-funding-experts-react-65334;https://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/news/2016/September/arena-funding-cuts.html49IndependentreviewintothefuturesecurityoftheNationalElectricityMarket(the‘FinkelReview’)https://www.energy.gov.au/government-priorities/energy-markets/independent-review-future-security-national-electricity-market50ClimateCouncil,‘CleanandReliablePower:RoadmaptoaRenewableFuture’,(2018)https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/uploads/2281dea087b8f3360bb96b6cad17edf7.pdf51Ibid.p14

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InordertomeetitsPariscommitmentsandavoidtheforeseeableharmstowomen’srightsthatgreaterclimatedisruptionwillcause,Australiamustputinplacestrongpoliciestoensuretheswiftdecarbonisationoftheelectricitysectorandencourageashifttorenewableenergysources.

8. Conclusion&RecommendationsAustraliahasICEDAWobligationstoavoidforeseeableharmstowomen’srights,includingbytakingstrongmeasurestoaddressclimatechange.AustraliaisnotdoingitsfairshareintermsoftheglobalemissionsreductioneffortandshouldincreasethelevelofambitionofitsParisAgreementtargetsandurgentlyputinplaceenergyandclimatepoliciesthatwillmoveAustraliatoazero-carbon,100%renewableenergysystem,andwillensureAustraliacontributestokeepingglobaltemperaturesto1.5Cofwarming.Australiamustacknowledgeitssignificantcontributiontoglobalcarbonemissionsthroughitshugecoalexportsandcommittoatransitionawayfromcoal,includingbycommittingtononewcoalminesorcoalmineexpansionsinAustraliaandrulingoutpublicfundingfornewcoalinfrastructure.ThismustbeaccompaniedbymeasurestoensureajusttransitionforaffectedcommunitiesinAustralia,andincreasingsupportforrenewableenergyplansindevelopingcountries.

WeurgetheCommitteeontheEliminationofDiscriminationAgainstWomento:

• Expressconcernrelatedtotheforeseeableadverseimpactsonwomen’srightsofglobalwarmingexceedingthemoststringenttemperatureincreasetargetsprovidedininternationalclimateagreementsandtheincompatibilityoftheclimateandenergypolicyofAustraliawithitsobligationtopromotethesubstantiveequalityofwomenandmen.

• RecommendthatAustraliaincreasetheambitionofitsclimatechangetargetsinlinewithscienceandwiththeobjectivesofinternationalclimateagreementsandreviewitsclimateandenergypoliciestoensurethatitisdoingitsfairshareofrequiredglobalemissionsreductions.Thisshouldincludelegislatedtargetsforemissionsreductionandcleanenergy–particularlyintheelectricitysector-onthebasisof100%renewableenergyby2030andzeroemissionsbefore2040,inthecontextofalong-termlowgreenhousegasemissionsdevelopmentstrategy.

• Expressconcernregardingtheemissionsofgreenhousegasesthatinevitablyresultfromtheextractionofcoalandotherfossilfuels–whethergeneratedbytheconsumptionofcoalinAustraliaorembeddedinitsexports,andnotethattheseextractionandexportscontributetoclimatechangeandtherebyundermineprogressmadetowardssubstantiveequalityofwomeninAustraliaandextraterritorially.

• RecommendthatthegovernmentofAustraliacommittoamanagedphase-outofcoalextraction,consumptionandexports,includingcommittingtononewcoalminesorcoalmineexpansionsinAustraliaandnopublicfundingfornewcoalinfrastructure,whilstensuringajusttransitionforaffectedcommunities.