On 2 February 2023, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) hosted a virtual stakeholder information session. This session outlined COP27 key outcomes, early COP28 expectations and an update on Australia’s bid to co-host COP31 in partnership with Pacific Island countries.
COP27 key outcomes – support for vulnerable countries and more
COP27 made progress across several topics being negotiated, including: a new collective climate finance goal, how to measure progress related to adaptation, technical work on Article 6 carbon markets, and the design of forward work on mitigation. In addition to the negotiating items on the formal agenda, the COP27 cover decision preserved Glasgow agreement to seek to limit temperature rise to 1.5 °C, recognised the critical role of renewables in the global energy transition and called for reform of multilateral development banks. The signature out of COP27 was agreement, earlier than anticipated, to establish new funding arrangements for loss and damage, including a new fund. Australia was pleased to support these new arrangements including the establishment of a Transitional Committee which, over the next year, will develop recommendations on how best to operationalise the new funding arrangements. With 10 developed and 14 developing country seats on the committee, Australia has taken the opportunity to be a developed country representative. This prominent role presents us with an opportunity to represent our region’s interests.
The Australian Government was represented at Ministerial level by the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the Hon Chris Bowen MP; the Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator the Hon Jenny McAllister; and the Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP. All three Ministers engaged in full programs of bilateral meetings and events, reflecting significant international interest in collaborating with Australia on climate change.
Australia’s Pavilion drove engagement between stakeholders and strengthened international dialogue and collaboration. Over 45 well-attended events and four documentaries were led by federal, state and local government, First Nations, youth, business, industry, and non-government organisations. The space provided the opportunity for dialogue and collaboration on climate action, including the energy transition, adaptation to the impacts of climate change, and global cooperation to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. It also raised the voices of those most vulnerable to climate change, including First Nations, women and youth. Australia also joined six initiatives supporting our national interests, including to address forest degradation, conserve mangroves that can store carbon, to increase the use of wind power, climate resilient agriculture, reducing methane emissions and to clean up maritime transport emissions. Further information on initiatives Australia joined or endorsed at COP27 can be found at dcceew.gov.au/COP27Aus/announcements.
Reflections from Australia’s Climate Change Ambassador Australia’s recently appointed Ambassador for Climate Change, Ms. Kristin Tilley, outlined her experience at COP27, and provided her broad reflections on how the Action Agenda segment of the annual COP processes has increased in scope and importance.
Stakeholder feedback
DCCEEW has actively sought and appreciated stakeholder feedback on Australia’s engagement, particularly regarding the Pavilion. It has largely been positive, with some suggestions how to improve in preparation for COP28.
Road to COP28
From 30 November to 12 December 2023, COP28 is to be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. There are indications COP28 will be outcomes-focussed and aims to re-inject a sense of optimism and hope into climate negotiations. As President-Designate Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, has made the case for a pro-growth, pro-climate agenda to support an inclusive energy transition that leaves no one behind.
Australia’s bid to co-host COP31 in partnership with Pacific Island countries
Australia has joined with our Pacific family in a bid to co-host COP31 set to take place in 2026. An Australia-Pacific COP would be a key opportunity to highlight the vulnerabilities of countries in our Pacific region and accelerate global action. Further announcements will be made if we secure the COP31 hosting rights.
Associate Professor Magdalena Simonis AM is the Immediate Past President of the AFMW (2020-2023), former President of VMWS (2013 & 2017-2020) and current AFMW National Coordinator (2024-2026). She is a full time clinician who also holds positions on several not for profit organisations, driven by her passion for bridging gaps across the health sector. She is a leading women’s health expert, keynote speaker, climate change and gender equity advocate and government advisor. Magda is member of The Australian Health Team contributing monthly articles.
Magdalena was awarded a lifetime membership of the RACGP for her contributions which include past chair of Women in General Practice, longstanding contribution to the RACGP Expert Committee Quality Care, the RACGP eHealth Expert Committee. She is regularly invited to comment on primary care research though mainstream and medical media and contributes articles on various health issues through newsGP and other publications.
Magdalena has represented the RACGP at senate enquiries and has worked on several National Health Framework reviews. She is author of the RACGP Guide on Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery and co-reviewer of the RACGP Red Book Women’s Health Chapter, and reviewer of the RACGP White book
Both an RACGP examiner and University examiner, she undertakes general practice research and is a GP Educator with the Safer Families Centre of Research Excellence, which develops education tools to assist the primary care sector identify, respond to and manage family violence . Roles outside of RACGP include the Strategy and Policy Committee for Breast Cancer Network Australia, Board Director of the Melbourne University Teaching Health Clinics and the elected GP representative to the AMA Federal Council. In 2022. she was award the AMA (Vic) Patrick Pritzwald-Steggman Award 2022, which celebrates a doctor who has made an exceptional contribution to the wellbeing of their colleagues and the community and was listed as Women’s Agenda 2022 finalist for Emerging Leader in Health.
Magdalena has presented at the United Nations as part of the Australian Assembly and was appointed the Australian representative to the World Health Organisation, World Assembly on COVID 19, by the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA) in 2021. In 2023, A/Professor Simonis was included on the King’s COVID-19 Champion’s list and was also awarded a Member (AM) in the General Division for significant service to medicine through a range of roles and to women’s health.
