What is being done?

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an international treaty that aims to limit atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations to levels below those at which unacceptable impacts would occur. Australia has signed and ratified this treaty. The Kyoto Protocol is an addition to this treaty and has more powerful and legally binding measures including emission targets for developed nations.

Australia's Kyoto Protocol emission target is to emit no greater than 108 per cent of the nation's 1990 emissions, on average, between 2008 and 2012. Although the Federal Government has stated it will not ratify the Kyoto Protocol, it has indicated the 108 per cent target will be achieved.

Action to reduce emissions is being taken at a national level through the COAG Climate Change Working Group, the National Emissions Trading Taskforce(NETT) and the Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO). The AGO supports greenhouse abatement programs such as the Cool Communities (community), Greenhouse Friendly (product/service), Greenhouse Challenge (corporate and industry) and Cities for Climate Protection (local government), which is a partnership with the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives.

Within Western Australia, initiatives are in place to reduce the State's greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The 2004 Western Australian Greenhouse Strategy builds on initiatives already in place and creates future direction for new initiatives, research and policy.