Australia and the United Kingdom today announced an enhanced partnership to tackle the causes and impact of climate change.
The new climate change partnership is aimed at building a global low carbon economy and bolstering effective adaptation measures to the combat increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
Features of the new climate change partnership include:
* Australia joining the UK as a member of the International Carbon Action Partnership - an association of governments working together on emissions trading.
* The governments of Australia and the UK working collaboratively on technological solutions to climate change in particular energy efficiency and carbon capture and storage.
* Heightened cooperation between UK and Australian climate scientists.
Building a global low carbon economy will provide new jobs, new industries and new growth for the future.
This will require an ambitious long term global target, supported by carbon markets that help drive investment in clean technologies.
For Australia, finding a technological solution to carbon emissions from coal-fired power stations is critical.
That's why Australia will work with the UK, the US, China and countries like Norway on translating this technology into an effective commercial reality.
In the lead-up to Copenhagen, the UK and Australia will become active partners in working towards a global consensus on climate change.