Australia's engagement with international climate change law under the First Rudd Government: a good international citizen?

Abstract

This thesis examines whether Australia acted as a 'good international citizen' in its engagement with international climate change law (ICCL) during the term of the first Rudd Labor government (3 December 2007 – 24 June 2010). The assessment is undertaken by examining the Rudd government's engagement with the key development in ICCL during its term of office, namely, the 'post-2012' negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol. Launched by the Bali Roadmap, December 2007, the period of negotiations reviewed by this thesis culminated in the adoption of the landmark Copenhagen Accord in December 2009. Given the complexity and breadth of issues addressed by the post-2012 negotiations, the thesis focuses on one major aspect of the negotiations, namely: the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. This was the central issue for the post-2012 negotiations to resolve and the key negotiating priority of the Rudd government. The thesis undertakes its assessment by utilising the concept of good international citizenship – a foreign policy goal first espoused in Australia by former Labor Foreign Minister, Gareth Evans, in the late 1980s – and later endorsed by the Rudd government. While there is no agreed definition of good international citizenship, essentially it requires states to adopt a more ethical approach to foreign policy. This means that states must forego the dogged pursuit of narrow national interests, recognising that they have a responsibility to promote the common good of the international community, not just self-interest. The concept is associated with a number of attributes such as showing respect for international law and providing leadership in the international sphere. The ramifications of good international citizenship for governmental engagement with ICCL have received little attention in the literature, and thus this thesis explores the practical requirements of the concept in this field.