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Climate Change

Australia On Course For Climate Change Showdown In Paris

Australia faces a big test ahead of the winter climate-summit in Paris. Will the country commit to cutting emissions under international pressure?

Australia On Course For Climate Change Showdown In Paris
Getty Images / Stefan Postles
By Sebastian Martinez
SMS
June 11, 2015

While Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott is busy warning the world about the dangers of ISIS, a French official is the latest figure warning the continent about climate change. (Video via Office of Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott)

That French official is climate envoy Nicolas Hulot, who says Australia needs to double its current rate of cutting emissions to keep up with other countries. (Video via EurActiv)

As it stands, Australia's goal is to reduce emissions 5 percent by 2020, in relation to levels in the year 2000. (Video via ABC Australia)

Compare that to the U.S., which set a goal of 17 percent by 2020, in relation to 2005 levels, and Australia's goal looks pretty conservative. (Video via Al Jazeera)

Especially when you factor in that Australia has some of the highest per-capita emissions in the developed world. There's a reason for that. (Video via Lonely Planet)

Abbott has repeatedly said climate change isn't the biggest global issue: He's argued against international climate pacts, and his top business adviser has called it a global conspiracy. (Video via Sky News)

At the same time, Abbott has continually supported coal production, one of the country's biggest exports and a multi-billion dollar industry in Australia. (Video via Science Channel)

But climate change could worsen one of Australia's most destructive recurring disasters: bush fires. The massive wildfires cost the country millions of dollars on an almost yearly basis. (Video via BBC)

The CEO of Australia's Climate Council told The Guardian the country is already seeing longer fire seasons: "Put simply, climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of very hot days and is driving up the likelihood of very high fire danger weather." (Video via HotHouse Sydney)

Australia still hasn't released it post-2020 goals, but on its current trajectory, Hulot estimated it would cut emissions 20 percent by 2030. (Video via Parliament of Australia)

It still has time to adjust that, though. The U.N.'s Climate Change conference in Paris doesn't start until Nov. 30. (Video via French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development)

This video includes music from Little Glass Men / CC BY 4.0.