Climate change is caused by human activity. It is the worst environmental and economic problem we face today. Human activity is disrupting the climate's natural balance and increasing greenhouse warming. Australia must commit to urgent action to cut greenhouse pollution and provide greater support to prepare poor countries for the impacts of climate change.

Australia is responsible for the emission of 60 times more carbon per person than Bangladesh yet the impact of climate change will fall more heavily on the poor in Bangladesh and other developing countries than communities in developed nations.

Poverty makes people vulnerable and limits their choices. If crops fail, subsistence farmers have few or no alternative means to provide food for their families. Natural disasters can overwhelm a poor household, destroying its ability to cope.

The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports (2007) project the following changes due to climate change by the end of this century:

• 1.1 billion to 3.2 billion people would be experiencing water scarcity,
• 200 million to 600 million would suffer from hunger and
• 2 million to 7 million would experience annual coastal flooding.

In 2000, leaders of 191 nations agreed on eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to ensure the halving of extreme poverty by 2015. Unless urgent steps are taken to help poor people adapt to climate change, and unless these actions are integrated in national strategies for poverty eradication and sustainable development, we will not meet the goals set for 2015.

"The poorest developing countries will be hit earliest and hardest by climate change, even though they have contributed little to causing the problem. Their low incomes make it difficult to finance adaptation. The international community has an obligation to support them in adapting to climate change. Without such support there is a serious risk that development progress will be undermined."

Stern Review, 2006

In order for Australia to demonstrate leadership and play its part in addressing the key issues facing climate affected peoples within our region and around the world, we are asking for the following;

1. Australian leadership – Australia must demonstrate leadership in ensuring a fair and equitable post-2012 agreement that gives first priority to the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable.
2. Strong and urgent action on reducing emissions - Australia adopts a national framework for urgently reducing Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% below 1990 levels by 2050, and by at least 30% by 2020, by socially equitable means.
3. Just adaptation – Australia to contribute its fair share to global adaptation costs in developing countries (fair share = at least $1.75bn p/a through multi-lateral, bi-lateral programs in addition to aid budget), without diverting aid funding, and assists developing countries to prepare for the unavoidable impacts of climate change.
4. Technology transfer for a low emission future – The Australian Government plays a leading role in the sharing of technology to reduce emissions; assist developing countries adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change; and allow for development to support rapid poverty reduction while minimising emissions.
5. Support for displaced populations – Australia leads the development of regional and national responses to assist people displaced by climate change.