As we speak, Melbourne is in the middle of a major international climate conference on the subject of climate change and its management. The five-day event which has attracted over 10,000 delegates from over 100 countries seeks to step up the implementation of tangible measures to curb greenhouse gas emissions and to increase the ability to cope with climate change.
The conference, titled “Climate Action 2024: The conference “Bridging the Gap,” is currently being hosted at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre where the city has become a center for environmental policy and technology. Climate scientists, policy makers, CEO’s, and activists from around the globe have come together to present state of the art research, policy solutions, and collaborations to combat climate change.
In his speech at the start of the conference, the Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese stressed that the climate crisis is an acute topic now and Australia is ready to take an active part in addressing the problem. “I would like to say that we are at a very serious and decisive stage in the climate change struggle,” Albanese said. ‘This conference is a chance for Australia to show that it is serious about climate change again and also see what other nations are doing.’
The proposed goals of the Paris Agreement, especially measures to achieve the target of limiting the average global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above the level of the pre-industrial period, are also among the conference priorities. From renewable energy transitions and sustainable agriculture to carbon pricing, as well as climate finance for developing countries, delegates are exploring all possible topics.
Another interesting feature of the conference has been the presentation of innovative technologies designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The building has installations of next generation photovoltaic cells, new generation batteries, Carbon capture and sequestration, and green building materials. Most of these technologies have been invented by Australian companies showing the country’s increasing importance in the green technology industry.
Cities have also been a key focus of the conference as the world looks for ways to fight climate change. Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp unveiled Climate and Biodiversity Emergency Action Plan for the city that targets to make Melbourne a city with zero carbon emissions by 2040. ‘Cities are leading the climate change agenda,’ Capp said. ‘It has been our pleasure to tell Melbourne’s story and to listen to other cities’ stories as we progress towards a sustainable city.’
First Nations’ representation has been apparent at the conference, including sessions of traditional knowledge, and its relevance to climate change adaptation. Traditional indigenous knowledge has been given by elders from different regions of Australia on how they have managed the land for centuries.
Young people’s advocacy has been most apparent with the conference featuring a separate Youth Forum that would take place simultaneously. Today’s youth climate activists are attending workshops, proposing their own climate initiatives, and attending to policymakers to ensure they have a seat at the global climate talks.
As the conference continues below are some of the major statements and pledges that have been made: The world’s largest businesses have signed an alliance that will see them reduce their emissions to net zero by 2030, while a group of foundations has committed to investing billions to help communities adapt to climate change.
It has not been without controversy though. Outside the convention center there are people protesting for climate change, demanding more intense and drastic actions towards climate change. They claim that the speed at which governments and businesses plan to transition is not sufficient given the threat.
However, there has been a note of optimism prevalent throughout the conference given the difficulties mentioned above. Several delegates have noted that they are optimistic the talks and the agreements achieved in Melbourne will be followed by actions in the next few months and years.
While the final days of the conference are in progress, the focus is shifting to the final declaration which is supposed to set a number of challenging goals and action programmes for the world community. Technically, delegations are frantically toiling to complete the text of the agreement that will chart the course of international climate change actions prior to the next meeting of the UN Climate Change Conference.
This major climate conference has placed Melbourne and Australia on the global map as a city and country serious about sustainability and as a country capable of hosting such an important global conference. At the end of the event the task will be to sustain the level of enthusiasm achieved in Melbourne and turn the talks into action on climate change anywhere in the world.
