26th Nov 2015, 12:26 PM – Senate Motions - Paris Climate Summit - Greens' motion

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Greens Senator Larissa Waters related to the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21) in Paris (read more about COP 21 on ABC News).

Wording of the motion

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) That the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference to be held in Paris [COP 21] begins on Monday, 30 November 2015,

(ii) calls by the President of Kiribati, Mr Anote Tong, and other leaders for a global moratorium on new coal mines,

(iii) calls in the Suva Declaration on Climate Change [PDF file] from the Pacific Islands Development Forum and the Port Moresby Declaration on Climate Change from the Smaller Island State Leaders' for an ambitious international agreement to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius,

(iv) calls from civil society for Australia to commit at least $400 million per year to international climate finance that will allow developing countries to adapt to climate change and build the low carbon communities of the future, and

(v) That the Turnbull Government's pollution targets would keep Australia as the worst polluter per capita in the developed world by 2030; and

(b) calls on the Turnbull Government to:

(i) support a global agreement to stabilise global temperatures at 1.5 degrees by 2100,

(ii) raise Australia's weak and dangerous pollution reduction targets to meet this long term goal,

(iii) support a global moratorium on new coal mines, and

(iv) commit at least $400 million per year for four years to international climate finance.