WWF - WWF Australia office

Great Barrier Reef Scorecard Highlights Risk to World Heritage Status

2013-01-31

Sydney, Australia - As part of their joint Fight for the Reef campaign, WWF-Australia and the Australian Marine Conservation Society today released a scorecard assessing the performance of both the Queensland and Australian Governments' management of the Great Barrier Reef.

Last year, UNESCO gave Australia a deadline to outline how it would better manage the Reef, noting that a failure to make 'substantial progress' would jeopardise its world heritage status. That deadline expires today.

WWF's Campaign Director, Richard Leck said each government was judged on a set of criteria based on the World Heritage Committee's list of recommendations.

"These dismal scores highlight our grave concerns that UNESCO is going to have no option but to recommend the Reef be put on its unenviable 'List of World Heritage in Danger' – the list of shame," Mr Leck said.
"There's a very real risk the Great Barrier Reef could lose its World Heritage status.

"The impact of that would be felt right throughout Queensland's economy, especially its $6 billion reef tourism industry. Australia's reputation is on the line."

The scorecard shows the Queensland Government's recent push to fast-track port development and weaken coastal protection laws are of major concern.

"The sheer size and speed of port and associated development along the Reef coast is unprecedented. There's more dredging, more ships and more turtles and coral dying," Mr Leck said.

"We also have significant concerns that instead of strengthening legislation to protect the Reef, the Queensland Government has moved to weaken legislation, which flies in the face of the World Heritage Committee's recommendations."

WWF and AMCS are calling on both governments to immediately implement a moratorium on approvals for all new major development until there is a sustainable and well-funded plan for the Reef's future. The groups are also calling on the Australian Government to commit $500 million to reduce Reef pollution.

For information contact:

WWF Australia: Sarah Best, Senior Media Officer, +61 (0) 421 897 087, sbest@wwf.org.au

WWF International (China / Singapore): Chris Chaplin, Media Relations Manager, +86 139 1174 7472, cchaplin@wwf.sg

WWF praises people power in spurring Australia marine parks decision

2012-11-16

Sydney, Australia - This morning, WWF congratulated the Federal Government of Australia on finalising the boundaries and basic layout of the world's largest network of marine parks. The conservation organisation also praised the high level of community support for the move.

"This is an historic moment for marine conservation in Australia. The establishment of this national network of marine parks is a world-first at this scale. It's an essential step forward for the protection of Australia's diverse and unique marine wildlife."

"Today's announcement is in line with scientific advice and has strong public support. We understand that in this phase, the government received 80,000 submissions which overwhelmingly supported the new marine parks. This latest demonstration of support builds on the waves of enthusiasm from hundreds of thousands of people all around the country over the past couple of years," said Paul Gamblin, marine spokesperson for WWF-Australia.

"Over a decade of effort, both Coalition and Labor governments have created the policies and momentum for this outcome, and we look to all parties for quick and effective passage of the parks' management arrangements early next year. These protections are overdue and our wildlife needs decisive action, without further delay." said Mr Gamblin.

While praising the overall plan, WWF also pointed to some areas that it believed had not yet received sufficient protection, such as coral reefs off North West Australia.

"Areas like those around the spectacular Rowley Shoals and Ningaloo Reef coral reefs do not receive the highest levels of protection available under this plan which means these critical features are still vulnerable to pressure from increasing oil and gas exploration, and possible spills.

Unfettered growth of industry in these areas puts at real risk the whales, dolphins, turtles and sharks that rely on these coral reefs. There is still an opportunity to adjust the plan in coming months to give places like the Rowley Shoals and Ningaloo greater protection."

"However, as this national network stands, Australians can be proud of the role they have played in persuading government to take this action. It provides an outstanding foundation for the conservation of Australia's world-famous marine wildlife and habitats - from the iconic Coral Sea and eastern seamounts to the wild and diverse west coast and Top End."

For more information contact

Hamish Wyatt, Communications Officer, WWF-Australia, +61 414 544 911, HWyatt@wwf.org.au.

New reef mega-ports planned: Queensland Govt. ignores UNESCO on Great Barrier Reef

2012-11-01

Australia's snubfin dolphin and other marine life face new threats to survival after the Queensland Government revealed draft plans for massive industrial development along the Great Barrier Reef coast.

WWF-Australia today expressed alarm over the Queensland Government's draft plans to open up sites up and down the Queensland coast to huge new port developments and said the strategy pushed the Reef one step closer to being listed on UNESCO's 'World Heritage in Danger' list.

"Earlier this year, UNESCO delivered a 'show cause' notice to the Australian and Queensland Governments and requested that no new port development or associated infrastructure outside of the existing and long-established major port areas be permitted," said WWF spokesperson Richard Leck.

"The Queensland Government's Great Barrier Reef Ports Strategy puts them on a collision course with UNESCO, by flagging new ports in areas that are currently undeveloped or at a very small scale.

"The Queensland Government agreed that any port expansion will be concentrated in areas where long established ports already exist, such as Gladstone Harbour. But today's announcement that new ports are set to be green-lighted around 6o kilometres north of Gladstone flies in the face of the Government's earlier commitment to UNESCO.

"The Newman Government's plan confirms Port Alma and Balaclava Island within the World Heritage Area are earmarked for future development, effectively creating a Gladstone to Rockhampton mega-port.

"The proposed development sites are located within Keppel Bay and the Fitzroy River Delta which is home to the recently discovered Australian Snubfin dolphin and four species of turtles. An independent scientific report confirms that the Balaclava Island development would have a disastrous impact on these threatened species.

"The last thing Queenslanders want to see for the Great Barrier Reef is the type of massive, unfettered development that occurred in Gladstone Harbour being repeated along the coast.

"WWF is keen to work with the Queensland Government to ensure that a plan is developed that avoids this fate and keeps the Great Barrier Reef from being listed as 'World Heritage in Danger'."

For more information contact:

Daniel Rockett, Senior Media Officer, WWF-Australia, 0432 206 592, drockett@wwf.org.au

Korea reveals plan to hunt endangered whales

2012-07-04

Panama City – The Republic of Korea today announced plans to kill endangered whales under a loophole in the International Whaling Commission (IWC) treaty that allows for so-called "scientific whaling". The proposal was met with fierce opposition from numerous IWC member governments that called the hunt unnecessary given the availability of modern non-lethal research techniques.

Many governments countered Korea's claims that lethal whaling is needed to determine how to manage stocks. Australia went so far as to invite Korean scientists for a visit to discuss how non-lethal techniques can help fill data gaps.

"The resumption of whaling by Korea after a quarter of a century would be a huge step back for the IWC," said Wendy Elliott, head of WWF's delegation to IWC. "Korea already sells meat from whales caught in fishing gear, and we believe this move is a thinly veiled attempt by Korea to conduct commercial whaling under the guise of scientific research, similar to hunts conducted by Japan in the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary."

The minke whales that would be taken in Korea's proposed hunt are considered endangered by the IWC Scientific Committee.

In its opening statement to the annual meeting of the commission, Korea said its fishermen are pressuring the government to allow whaling. "[T]hey are experiencing disturbances in their fishing activities due to frequent occurrences of cetaceans in their fishing grounds and an increasing number of minke whales are eating away large amount of fish stocks," the statement says.

The argument that increasing whale populations are behind declining fish stocks lacks any scientific foundation. Overfishing, not whales, is responsible for the degraded state of many of the world's fish stocks.

Korea conducted a similar scientific hunt of minke whales in 1986, which was found by the IWC to yield no relevant scientific data. Not only was no new information of significant scientific value obtained, the IWC Scientific Committee found that "the take of 69 minke whales may have caused further reduction of this depleted stock, or at best inhibited its recovery," according to its report.

"This type of senseless proposal derails the important work of the IWC on conservation issues of critical importance to whales, dolphins and porpoises," Elliott said. "Conservation of threatened whale species is something all countries should be able to agree on."

Gillard Government Rio+20 oceans announcement a welcome investment in protection for Coral Triangle and Pacific

2012-06-25

WWF-Australia today applauded the Australian Government for committing an additional $8 million towards the Coral Triangle Initiative and up to $25 million to the Pacific Oceanscape Framework.

The extra funding, announced by Prime Minister Gillard at the Rio+20 summit, will assist countries across the Asia Pacific to improve the management of their oceans and coast.

WWF-Australia CEO Dermot O'Gorman said the announcement was a welcome investment in the region.

"Last week's commitment to a national system of marine protected areas set an important example to the world," Mr O'Gorman said.

"This further announcement is a serious commitment from Australia to support the goals of the Rio+20 meeting and help re-focus the world's attention on the health of our oceans, and the need to invest in their conservation."

"Australia has developed world-class marine science and management expertise over many years and we hope this announcement will enable a greater sharing of that knowledge with our region.

"WWF further hopes that the vital role that the health of marine and coastal ecosystems play in supporting the livelihoods of billions of people around the world and hundreds of millions in our region is recognised strongly in the Rio +20 meeting."

The Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security was formed in 2009 by the six Coral Triangle governments. WWF is one of seven Development Partners that provide ongoing support to the Initiative.

Located in the waters off the coasts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste, the Coral Triangle is the world's marine life hotspot. It contains the highest diversity of iridescent corals, fish, crustaceans, molluscs and marine plant species on Earth.

The Pacific Oceanscape Framework aims to protect, manage, maintain and sustain the cultural and natural integrity of the Pacific Islands Ocean Region.

Australia creates world's biggest marine park network on eve of Rio+20 summit

2012-06-14

Australia today created the world's biggest network of marine protected areas, setting an important precedent for ocean protection as countries prepare to meet for the Rio+20 meeting on sustainable development.

WWF welcomed the new system of marine parks that would now cover more than one third of the Commonwealth waters of Australia – a milestone that WWF has been working towards for more than 15 years. The jewel in the crown of the new network is the Coral Sea marine park that, together with the adjacent Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, will make up the world's largest marine park.

WWF-Australian CEO Dermot O'Gorman said Australia has the third largest ocean territory in the world that stretches from the tropics to the sub-Antarctic and is home to incredible creatures such as whales, dolphins, turtles and sharks as well as spectacular corals and other ecosystems.

Gov's historic announcement this AM on expansion of #Marine Protected Areas big step forward for our marine environment & the #futurewewant!
— Dermot O'Gorman (@DermotOz) June 14, 2012

"By declaring more than one third of its waters as marine parks, Australia has made a major advance in marine conservation that is both nationally and globally significant. Coming on the eve of the Rio+20 summit on sustainable development, this is an inspiring outcome for other countries to follow," Mr O'Gorman said.

"In recent times the Australian Government has made it clear that it aspires to be a global leader in marine conservation. Today's decision helps meet this aspiration and WWF looks forward to hearing how Australia will assist other countries in our region to better manage their marine resources at the Rio +20 summit.

"In places like the Coral Triangle and the Pacific, oceans support an incredible diversity of life and provide food security for millions of people.

"WWF's vision is for there to be a network of marine parks from the freezing waters of the Southern Ocean to the teeming coral reefs of the tropics."

"Marine sanctuaries provide areas where wildlife can feed and breed and help ensure the food security of millions of people who rely on the ocean for their daily sustenance and livelihoods.

"The oil spills and ship groundings in recent years have shown the range of threats facing our oceans. It is important that we get the balance right by ensuring places are set aside for conservation as well as having well-managed, ocean use."

The Australian network of marine protected areas was announced by the Australian Environment Minister Tony Burke in Sydney today and incorporates places like the reefs of the Coral Sea and the deep sea areas off Western Australia.

In welcoming the announcement, WWF expressed some concern that some of Australia's most critical marine environments had been excluded from the marine park and left vulnerable to industrial exploitation.

"While this is a big step forward, oil and gas rigs are still moving closer to places like the stunning Rowley Shoals and Ningaloo Reef off Western Australia," Mr O'Gorman said.

For more information contact

Daniel Rockett, Senior Media Officer, +61 432 206 592, drockett@wwf.org.au

Diuron and the Great Barrier Reef – A review of the latest science

2012-03-28

Diuron has been shown to be an unmanageable pesticide in the GBR catchments due to its toxicity, persistence, ability to travel long distances from its point of application and its sub-lethal impacts. Its continued registration contravenes the aims of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) and therefore must be cancelled to protect the Great Barrier Reef and its catchments.

The role of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is to ensure that all registered products "will have no harmful or unintended effects on people, animals, the environment or international trade ". Although under review since 2002, the continued registration of diuron contradicts this role as it has clearly been shown to have harmful and unintended effects on the marine and freshwater environment. Numerous scientific publications demonstrating both its presence in, and negative effects on, aquatic ecosystems have been released since the diuron review process began and many have been published in the last few months of 2011 and early 2012 providing compelling Australian evidence about the environmental fate and effects of diuron in the Great Barrier Reef. The combined result of these studies is that diuron:

• Represents a clear threat to the health of marine and freshwater ecosystems
• Is the dominant herbicide entering the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and its catchments
• Is persistent in the environment and so cannot be controlled seasonally
• Acts in concert with other pesticides and stressors
• Is reducing the resilience of ecosystems such as the Great Barrier Reef

The following summary highlights arguments for the removal of diuron from use within the catchments of the Great Barrier Reef and signals that other catchments may also be at risk.

Lights out in Western Pacific as Earth Hour heads for record year

2011-03-26

Lights were turned off in homes, businesses and public buildings in Fiji and New Zealand at 8:30 PM local time as Earth Hour 2011 began. There was widespread endorsement of the message that the world and its environment need commitments for action going "beyond the hour".

By the time the event ends in the Cook Islands, 24hrs after the first light switch was turned off, hundreds of millions of people in thousands of cities, towns and communities in a record 134 countries on all continents are expected to have participated.

In Fiji, lights were turned off but not the television sets as the island nation got set for the face off against Kenya in the all important Hong Kong Rugby Sevens.
At Davis Station, Antarctica, the lights will go off - but not the heating - as scientists settle in for a candlelit dinner.

In some countries, the national, regional and especially municipal leaders have taken major roles in organising Earth Hour activities.

In Swaziland, the driving force behind Earth Hour will be 15 year old Nathi Mzileni.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged all to "use 60 minutes of darkness to help the world see the light".

Social Media Hit
Earth Hour has dominated as a topic on social networking channels over recent days with Australian international model Miranda Kerr "hijacking" the Myspace homepage for Earth Hour.

The core Earth Hour accounts have garnered more than half a million Facebook fans and nearly 50,000 followers on Twitter, with many more following country specific accounts supporting the cause.

YouTube also displayed a customised doodle across the site for Earth Hour, while a light switch appearing above each video allows users to darken the YouTube host page.

Show Business & Sport
The world of show business and the world of sport also got behind the event, with leading stars in many countries taking part in Earth Hour events.

Leading sports institutions lending their support included the world's largest football club, Real Madrid, London's Olympic organising body and the European football federation UEFA.

London's 02 Arena joins a host of prominent sporting venues taking part in Earth Hour, including Chicago's Wrigley Fields, and the Water Cube and Birds Nest in Beijing.

"The list of official participants always falls short of the real levels of participation," Earth Hour co-founder and executive director Andy Ridley said from the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge soon after the lights faded in the city where Earth Hour was born.

"We always find out after the event that Earth Hour has been observed in countries that have never contacted us, cities we would never have expected and places we haven't heard of.

"We treasure this - it is symbolic of the growing recognition that we all need to act to restore the harmony between humanity and its environment and we all can act."

Celebrations in New Zealand
Wet conditions failed to dampen the enthusiasm for Earth Hour celebrations in New Zealand - although the event was also tinged with sadness as participants recalled the former key role of the city of Christchurch, devastated by an earthquake last month.

In the capital, Wellington's Mayor Celia Wade Brown switched off lights for the Earth Hour event at the Carter Observatory. Speaking at the event, WWF-New Zealand Executive Director Chris Howe emphasized the collective power of the Earth Hour global movement: "When we take small actions as part of a global community, we can make a big difference and create a future where people live in harmony with nature," he said.

In Auckland, the Sky Tower - the tallest free standing structure in the southern hemisphere - switched off lights, Hamilton's Earth Hour revellers braved thunder and lightning to attend Earth Hour 'lights out' events at restaurants and bars, and people in Alexandra enjoyed music by candlelight in Centennial Park.

Beyond the hour activities for Earth Hour have been most comprehensively embraced in Tauranga, a coastal city south of Auckland, with 41 businesses and organisations committing themselves to environmental action, including students planting 1000 trees along the expressway and the Port of Tauranga pledging to cut energy use.

Started in Australia, embraced by the world
Australia's participation in Earth Hour began as the lights dimmed on one of the world's most noted dual landmarks - the coat-hanger and sails combination of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.

The cascade of commitments for beyond the hour activities went well beyond Australia's largest city.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard to do all she could to secure a price on carbon to combat climate change causing emissions, to new bikeways and LED lights for parks and streets.
WWF-Australia and partners also introduced Earth Hour Awards for outstanding contributions to the environment; an initiative that may be rolled out around the world for future Earth Hours.
15 year old Parrys Raines convinced her Woollongong school to install water filling stations and provide each student and teacher with a reusable stainless steel drinking bottle to reduce plastic bottle waste.

Sympathy for Japan
The Australian Earth Hour, along with many others, commenced with a minute's silence for the victims of the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in Japan earlier this month. Earth Hour events in some countries included fund raising to assist earthquake and tsunami victims.

In Japan itself, a small Earth Hour team demonstrated the resilience and resourcefulness shown by the country since the dual disaster by putting their emphasis on promoting 20 ways for Japanese people and businesses to save energy as a practical way to provide assistance to devastated areas.

The lights were turned off out on the Tokyo and Kyoto Towers and the castle and peace memorial in Hiroshima.

"We have had to cancel many of our planned events for Earth Hour," said WWF-Japan CEO Takamasa Higuchi. "What we would like to say is how grateful we are for the many gestures of help offered to our nation in this time of great tragedy."

"Despite the cruel situation a Japanese-Style Inn in the most devastated area has decided to participate in Earth Hour. Many evacuated people who lost their families and homes because of the tsunami are staying in the inn. They do not have electricity, of course, so they cannot switch off but will pray for the victims."

Phillipines claims record for community participation
The League of Cities and League of Municipalities ensured an overwhelming turn-out for Earth Hour in the Philippines by signing up 1661 cities and communities for the event After a minute's silence for Japan and the planet, acoustic performances provided low-carbon entertainment at the switch-off event.

The Department of Energy Secretary Rene D. Almendras lit the official candle outside the Mall of Asia at Pasay City followed by the vice president of The Philippine's Climate Change Commission. A long line of government and company representatives, celebrities, regional representatives and students then lit their candles from the official candle and recited their pledges for beyond the hour actions for the environment.

Other pledges flooded in from the municipalities. Makati City announced a ban on plastic shopping bags and plans to promote the use of locally handcrafted bags.

For images and video earthhour.org/media

Interviews:
Contact the Earth Hour Global media team on: Ph +61 404 929 243 or newsdesk@earthhour.org

Deep Shell well proposal a risk to noted Australian reef

2011-03-08

Perth, Australia: Noted Ningaloo Reef off Western Australia and "a blue superhighway" for migrating whales, dolphins and turtles could be devastated by accidental discharges from a deep water exploratory well proposed by oil major Shell.

The well, proposed for mile (1.6 km) deep waters 50 km from the World Heritage nominated Ningaloo Reef poses unacceptable risks, WWF-Australia warned today.

WWF-Australia Conservation manager Gilly Llewellyn said it was inappropriate for the Federal Government to consider Shell's proposal before the regulatory overhaul recommended by the inquiry into Australia's last major oil spill.

The blow-out at the Montara exploratory well, in the Timor Sea to the north of Ningaloo, covered more than 90,000 sq kilometres of ocean in the 73 days it took to kill the well. The report, delayed while the even bigger blowout in the Gulf of Mexico captured world attention, found serious shortcomings by both operators and regulators.

"Ningaloo is a stunning marine park and the waters between it and the proposed well are home to a blue superhighway that literally provides a migration route for whales, dolphins and turtles," Dr Llewellyn said.

"The Coral Coast is also an important area for tourism and commercial fishing in Western Australia, with potential risks to those industries.

"The Montara and Gulf of Mexico disasters demonstrated that drilling accidents can happen to even the biggest companies in the business, and that deep water drilling compounds the challenges of fixing a disaster.

"Shell's own spill modeling from a blow-out scenario not only reveal impacts to Ningaloo Reef but to neighbouring islands and coastal waters."

Reviews conducted around the world following the Deepwater Horizon disaster commonly conclude the oil industry has essentially been allowed to write the rule book for its own operations.

Even the Australian Government review of the Montara incident called for the creation of a new national regulatory and oversight authority, to come into effect in January 2012.

The Shell proposal follows BP's announcement of plans to conduct seismic exploration with a view to drilling in the Great Australian Bight marine park. This would result in more deep-water drilling in areas exceptionally rich with marine wildlife, including whales and southern blue fin tuna.

"Important areas for marine wildlife need to be protected by marine parks and not left open for oil and gas activities. Both Shell and BP's applications need to be suspended until a national system of marine parks is in place and there is stronger regulatory oversight," said Dr Llewellyn.

"With the potential for yet another oil spill disaster, there is too much at stake."

Shell's Palta-1 exploration well proposal
As depicted by Shell's own modeling, a worst-case scenario could result in a Montara-sized oil spill covering a significant area off the WA coast (pg 26). Of note are the red and orange areas around Ningaloo Reef and all down the Coral Coast – an important commercial fishing zone for Western Australia.

Summary of the region's fisheries

General overview of the Coral Coast/Gascoyne region

For more information:

Dr Gilly Llewellyn, WWF-Australia Conservation Manager, 0406 380 801,
Paul Gamblin, WWF-Australia Conservation Director WA, 0410 221 508,
Cortlan Bennett, WWF Media Officer WA, 0404 700 001,

Toxic pollution from Australia floods threatens marine life

2011-01-10

Toxic pollution from flooded farms and towns along Australia's Queensland coast will have a disastrous impact on the Great Barrier Reef's corals and will likely have a significant impact on dugongs, turtles and other marine life, WWF warned today.

"In addition to the terrible costs to farmers and communities in Queensland, we will also see a major and extremely harmful decline in water quality on the Great Barrier Reef," said WWF spokesman Nick Heath.

Heath said the restoration of important woodlands in flood prone catchment areas of the Fitzroy River and Murray Darling Basin would help protect communities and the marine environment from future floods.

"Today's floods are bigger, dirtier and more dangerous from excessive tree clearing, overgrazing and soil compaction. As a result less water infiltrates deep into the soil, increasing the size and erosive intensity of floods," he said.

Rebuilding

"While the current floods would still have occurred, trees and wetlands slow flood waters down and absorb water, lessening the impact of the flood. We can better prepare for future floods by bringing trees back into previously cleared catchment areas."

Climate change is likely to deepen the cycle of drought and floods, with further loss of top soil followed by bigger rainfall events, and therefore increase the damage caused by floods.

Heath said the need to rebuild farms presented an opportunity to introduce best-practice farm design and management in reef catchment areas that would boost future profitability, better prepare farms for flood recovery and significantly reduce the future impact of farming on the Great Barrier Reef.

"As devastating and tragic as these floods are, they also provide a chance to introduce newer and better technologies that will reduce pollution and increase profits," he said.

"Better management and design of our farms can reduce the risks to people, livelihoods and wildlife and also lead to greater profits further down the track by increasing deep infiltration and soil moisture, improved topsoil retention and therefore productivity."

Over the past 150 years sediment inflow onto the Great Barrier Reef has increased four to five times, and five to 10 fold for some catchments, while inorganic nitrogen and phosphorous continue to enter the Great Barrier Reef at enhanced levels, according to the Australian Government's Outlook Report.

Another fisheries commission fails the tuna test

2010-12-11

Honolulu, Hawaii: The Commission responsible for managing tuna resources in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean has yet again failed to take any effective action to reduce the decline of valuable big eye and yellowfin tuna.

The failure, just weeks after the Atlantic tuna commission made only cosmetic cuts to Mediterranean bluefin tuna catch quotas, adding to increasing scepticism that the global system of Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) can prevent the unsustainable plunder of the world's oceans.

The week long Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) annual meeting in Hawaii saw strong interventions from Japan and the EU on the urgent need to freeze fishing capacity of purse seine super fleets and fishing pressure on the most stressed tuna stocks, moves that won support from the US and some other powerful fishing states.

But the WCPFC ultimately stuck to the familiar course of throwing overboard the scientific advice, rejecting its own Scientific Committee's recommendation of an immediate 29 per cent reduction in the big eye tuna catch.

"Once again we see the WCPFC failing to hear their own scientific advice and condemning the region's most stressed tuna stocks to another year of overfishing," said Peter Trott, Fisheries Program Manager with WWF-Australia.

"I have never seen such strong support from the big fishing nations on the need to reduce pressure on big eye and other stressed stocks but this was still not enough to make any real progress on halting the decline of these species."

"absurd" conservation measure for striped marlin

There were some positives to emerge from the meeting, most significantly agreement to develop a shark research plan and introduce greater monitoring and reporting of shark catches. A conservation measure was also adopted for heavily fished Northern Bluefin tuna.

And the Commission agreed to finally go ahead with an independent review of its own performance, a commitment originally made years ago.

"This level of agreement on shark catch has been one of only a few progressive steps taken at this year's meeting and we hope it will help better inform, and stop the decline of key shark species within the region," Mr Trott said.

But the credibility of the WCPFC was further undermined with an absurd conservation measure for overfished striped marlin that according to the Commission's scientific advisor will allow the catch to increase.

"This level of agreement on shark catches has been one of only a few progressive steps taken at this years meeting and we hope it will help better inform, and stop the decline of key shark species within the region," Mr Trott said.

"The WCPFC meeting in Hawaii demonstrated that its most powerful fishing members are ringing the alarm bells of the regions tuna stocks, calling out for urgent action on its most critical issues," Mr Trott said.

"Unfortunately the Commission still lacks the teeth required to meet its responsibilities in terms of conservation and sustainability."

WWF is advocating consideration of new rights- basedmanagement frameworks, cuts to fishing effort from the industrial purse seine sector, care over initiatives that could largely have the effect of displacing rather than reducing fishing effort.

"Most importantly however, the WCPFC should take heed of its contribution to the failures of global fishing regulation and be prepared to set the example in terms of following the scientific advice," Mr Trott said.

For more information: Peter Trott, Fisheries Program Manager, WWF-Australia, +61 437 960 812, ptrott@wwf.org.au

Timor oil spill inquiry cites company shortcomings and negligent regulator

2010-11-25

Sydney, Australia: A long-awaited report into the August 2009 oilspill which widely affected marine and bird life in the Timor Sea has condemned "widespread and systematic" shortcomings by the company constructing and operating the well.

WWF-Australia, which played a significant role in publicising the impact of the remote spill, has welcomed the report, calling for the Federal Government "to get serious about protecting Australia's oceans and coasts" with "a network of marine sanctuaries that prevent drilling for oil and gas in the most environmentally sensitive areas".

The report, completed during early stages of the catastrophic Gulf of Mexico explosion and oil spill but not handed down to the Australian Parliament until this week, was also highly critical of the Northern Territory Department of Resources, saying it "was not a diligent regulator and its minimalist approach to its regulatory responsiblilties gave it little chance of discovering these poor (company) practices."

Initial undersea cementing problems on the exploration well were compounded by only one of two planned secondary well control barriers being installed, the report found.

The blowout took 73 days to kill. The inquiry was told the oil from the blowout covered 90,000 kilometres of sea and reef – much more than the area admitted to during the spill.

"When WWF visited the toxic spill last year, it was evident dolphins and sea birds were swimming
through a noxious mix of oil and chemical dispersants," said Dr Gilly Llewellyn, WWF-Australia's
Conservation Manager.

"This kind of environmental disaster is unacceptable. Montara and the Gulf of Mexico spill have
shown the worse case scenario can and does happen."

WWF has welcomed the Government's decision to accept public comments on its draft response of tightening regulatory oversight and better monitoring the impacts of spills on wildlife.

Singapore and Malaysia asked to close ports to toothfish pirates

2010-11-09

Hobart, Australia: An international request that Malaysia and Singapore take action to ensure their ports are closed to blacklisted fishing vessels which are illegally poaching in Antarctic waters has been applauded by WWF.

According to the 25 nation Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR ) vessels known to illegally fish for toothfish have been returning to Singapore and Malaysian ports after filling their holds with Patagonian toothfish in the southern oceans.

"These poachers have been able to continue harming the Southern Ocean ecosystem because they have been able to find ways to get illegally caught toothfish to market", said Rob Nicoll WWF's Antarctic and Southern Ocean Initiative Manager. "These fishers will continue to cause harm to the Southern Ocean as long as some gaps exist."

The fish are repacked for the Chinese market, sometimes in packaging purporting to mark premium legally caught fish.

Exploiting the Hong Kong loophole

It is believed that some of the toothfish landed in Malaysia and Singapore are coming to Hong Kong, which did not accede to CCAMLR together with the rest of China – meaning there is no obligation to ensure toothfish coming into Hong Kong are not from illegal, unreported or unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Patagonian toothfish, also known as Chilean sea bass, can fetch up to $20 US dollars per kg landed and the equivalent of $US 75 a kg for fish fillets at the retail level. The fish have long been a favoured target of fishing pirates.

"Unregulated operators are using loopholes in international law to fish outside the framework of CCAMLR, which negatively impacts on legal operators" said Coaltion of Legal Toothfish Operators President, Martin Exel. "We're pleased that CCAMLR has taken such rapid action to alert the governments of Singapore and Malaysia to the IUU operations of these boats."

Governments can close markets to illegally caught toothfish by developing their cooperation with CCAMLR or closing ports to boats, or products from boats, on CCAMLR's IUU blacklist.

WWF is urging governments to sign, ratify and implement the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (FAO Port State Agreement), which sets consistent standards for the use of ports by foreign flagged fishing vessels, catch verification, transshipment guidelines and for the exclusion of blacklisted vessels.

CCAMLR has closed a number of toothfish fisheries in the Southern Ocean due to the impact of illegal fishers – but despite the best efforts of CCAMLR and legal fishers to implement a catch documentation scheme and other measures to eliminate IUU fishing for toothfish it remains a significant problem.

CCAMLR estimates of IUU fishing for toothfish have been revised upwards by 30 to 50 percent, for two of the last four years – with even these numbers still considered as underestimates in some quarters.

wwf.panda.org/media for latest news and media resources

Rare dolphins threatened by boat strikes, fishing gear

2010-08-04

Sydney, Australia: A new study by WWF into one of the world's rarest and most threatened species has found two out of three snubfin dolphins in Roebuck Bay near Broome, Western Australia have been injured by boat strikes and fishing gear.

Snubfin dolphins are Australia's only endemic dolphin species and are found only in Australia's tropical northern waters. The species was not known to exist before 2005, when it was first scientifically described.

Of 161 snubfin dolphins identified in coastal waters around the tourist town of Broome, 124
were photographed and a staggering 63 per cent bore scars from vessel strikes, fishing nets
and fishing lines.

Small whales, dolphins and porpoises (collectively known as 'small cetaceans') are disappearing from the world's oceans and waterways as they fall victim to fishing gear, pollution, and habitat loss – compounded by a lack of conservation measures such as those developed for great whales, according to a 2009 WWF report.

Small Cetaceans: The Forgotten Whales revealed that all small cetacean species for which the population trend is known are in decline, and inadequate conservation measures are pushing them toward extinction.

Small cetaceans fulfill a critical role in their environment, stabilising and ensuring a healthy and productive ecosystem. They also are part of the highly profitable whale and dolphin watching industry, which generates around US $2.1 billion each year worldwide.

"It's startling to think that a rare population of Australia's only native dolphin species would be
carrying such a high number of injuries," said Lydia Gibson, WWF-Australia's spokesperson on tropical marine species.

"The area where these dolphins feed and breed is a hotspot for boating and fishing. Human activity is having a massive impact on the resident population of these rare dolphins."
WWF researchers discovered the high incidence of snubfin dolphin injuries by chance as they documented the species in and around Roebuck Bay.

The study's findings did not include snubfin dolphins that may have died from their injuries
(unrecoverable due to strong tides, sharks and other scavengers), meaning the proportion of
strikes could be far higher.

"Roebuck Bay's shallow waters are popular for recreational boating activities. On top of this,
coastal development, petroleum exploration, tourism and fishing increase the number of vessels in the area and add to the risk of these dolphins being injured," Ms Gibson said.

ING DIRECT, Australia's largest online bank, has funded WWF's snubfin dolphin campaign
since 2007, working closely with the conservation organisation on its snubfin projects, including the release of the latest report.

"It's remarkable that of 12 international whale and dolphin injury studies, Australia manages to top the list as the country with the highest injury rate to dolphins species," said David Breen, Head of Corporate Affairs, ING DIRECT.

"This new research shows that human activities are having a huge impact on the snubfin
dolphin's survival. We are dedicated to working with researchers to understand more about
these remarkable creatures, to help safeguard them long into the future."

Among many suggested reforms to help protect this population of snubfin dolphins, the WWF
study recommends:

•Implementing speed limits of 5 knots around creeks, mangroves, seagrass and shallow
areas of Roebuck Bay;
•Warning boaters to maintain a lookout for dolphins and other wildlife, and slowing to
avoid them;
•Urging fishermen to recover monofilament line and nets, and not to fish inside mangrove
areas due to high risk of line entanglement;
•Educating the public and asking them to help photograph and document local snubfin
dolphins.

"Reform to boat regulation is critical to the snubfin dolphin's survival," said Ms Gibson. "Simple actions can help remedy this problem in Roebuck Bay.

"However, it is just as important for state, territory and federal governments to uplist the current conservation status of the snubfin dolphin to 'threatened', and rapidly identify and protect 'hotspots' of snubfin dolphins across northern tropical Australia."

New evidence on sea levels and fish behaviour underlines urgency of climate action

2010-07-08

Gland, Switzerland: New evidence suggesting sea levels will rise to double expected levels this century and that fewer baby fish will grow successfully to maturity in more acidified oceans underline the urgent need for decisive action on climate change, WWF said today.

The Australian Earth Sciences Convention has heard that cores drilled up to two kilometers below the Antarctic ice have outlined an earth with a similar climate to the warmer earth projected in current climate assessments.

The new evidence was presented by Professor Tim Naish, director of New Zealand's Antarctic Research Centre, recently named a lead author for the next climate change assessment from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

It supports other recent modeling suggesting an average sea level rise this century of one metre or more – double the upper estimate issued by the IPCC.

"Given many climate models predict the planet will warm by the same two to three degrees over the next 50 to 100 years, scientists need to urgently understand how temperature changes will affect the polar ice sheet and the speed of likely change," Professor Naish said.

"A couple of degrees of temperature change can lead to quite dramatic changes across the world."

Nemo wouldn't be able to find way home in a carbonated ocean, study finds

Some 150 million people live within a one metre elevation from sea level and much greater numbers would be vulnerable to impacts that include higher storm surges and saline intrusion into coastal aquifers supplying water and supporting food production..

"New studies are all the time painting an ever-worsening picture of what we are facing with climate change," said Gordon Shepherd, interim leader of WWF's global climate deal. "And what we are facing is not just worse projections for impacts we know about but left fielders that we never anticipated.

"For instance, the same conference has heard that baby fish will become more vulnerable to predators as oceans acidify in the process of absorbing excess CO2."

"This is another threat joining an already long list of climate change threats to our food supplies."

The ocean acidification study, conducted by Australia's highly regarded Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, found that as carbon levels rise and ocean water acidifies, the behaviour of baby fish changes dramatically.

The behaviours of concern include being attracted to predators rather than cautious of them and a decreased sense of smell. Early experiments using clown fish – the Nemo of the film – found them unable to find their way home in carbonated water.

Overall, the behavioural changes decrease larval fish chances of survival by 50 to 80 per cent.

Politics of climate change transformed as leader dumped for not acting

2010-06-24

Gland, Switzerland: In what may come to be seen as a pivotal moment in the global politics of climate change, members of Australia's ruling Labor Party today dumped Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in favour of his deputy, Julia Gillard.

The basis of the sudden and largely unexpected coup was a slide in polls which many commentators attributed to Rudd's April decision to abandon efforts to push a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) through a hostile Senate
.
A poll commissioned by WWF Australia which showed collapsing government support and a soaring Green Party vote in key marginal seats may also have contributed to Rudd's ousting. He's been replaced by Julia Gillard - Australia's first woman prime-minister.

Leading national daily newspaper, The Australian, made reference to "voter anger at the Prime Minister's decision to delay the emissions trading scheme (ETS)", reporting that nearly two thirds of voters in the marginals surveyed supported an ETS while only a quarter opposed it – and nearly two thirds said it would affect the way they vote.

"We believe the Labor Party's backflip on the emissions trading scheme and its associated decline in the polls is a key reason we now have a new leader," said WWF-Australia CEO Greg Bourne.

"It is not surprising that support for an emissions trading scheme is still a key factor in voters minds, given it was a major platform for both major parties at the last election and both have since backflipped," said Kellie Caught, WWF-Australia's Climate Change Policy Manager

"What this poll makes clear is that taking serious action to reduce Australia's carbon pollution is a vote winner."

While Australians may have acted first, indications are that they are not alone. Two weeks ago, Stanford University released research showing a large majority of US citizens supported action on climate change, reinforcing similar findings from the UK.

Said Stanford Professor of communication, political science and psychology Jon A. Krosnick, who lead the research, "a huge majority shares a common vision of climate change".

"This creates a unique opportunity for elected representatives to satisfy a lot of voters," he concluded.

Australia's new Prime Minister said after her election that she would make a priority of establishing a "community consensus for action". If re-elected at the forthcoming elections, she said " . . . I will re-prosecute the case for a carbon price at home and abroad".
WWF today congratulated Julia Gillard on becoming the next Prime Minister of Australia and urged the new leader to recommit to an emissions trading scheme by, 2011.
"The party backflipped and now it is up to the new leader to right the wrongs and commit to an emissions trading scheme by 2011" , Mr Bourne said.
"Any attempt to just tinker around the edges with piecemeal action will not satisfy the Australian people that real action is being taken.

Reef crash underscores need for better shipping rules

2010-04-06

Large vessels need to be in safe hands when transiting through the Great Barrier Reef, and this means local pilots with local knowledge, WWF said today.

The global conservation organisation has called for immediate improvements to the way shipping is managed in the Great Barrier Reef after the Chinese-owned bulk coal carrier Shen Neng 1 slammed into the reef on the weekend.

This is the latest incident in a series of shipping accidents along Queensland's coast over the past ten years, and highlights the failings of the current management system.

"The current lack of safeguards around shipping in the Great Barrier Reef is akin to playing Russian roulette with one of the world's most treasured natural icons," said WWF-Australia Director of Conservation Dr Gilly Llewellyn.

"In addition to having compulsory pilots with local expertise on all large vessels in the reef, there needs to be much better monitoring systems in place so that authorities know where large vessels are on the reef at all times.

"There must be no blind spots when ships navigate the Great Barrier Reef. This means real time tracking of all vessels and monitoring to ensure they stay on course."

In November 2000 a Malaysian-owned container ship, the Bunga Teratai Satu, ran aground on Sudbury Reef, 22nm south-east of Cairns. The ship left a 70-metre scar along the reef and approximately 2,000 square metres of coral was pulverised.

In 2002 the Greek-owned bulk carrier Doric Chariot ran aground on Piper Reef, causing significant damage to about 3,500 square metres of the reef.

And just last year, 250 tonnes of oil escaped from the container ship Pacific Adventurer and washed up on Sunshine Coast beaches, Bribie Island and Moreton Island.

"With shipping traffic set to escalate dramatically in these waters over coming years, a major environmental disaster becomes more likely. A review of the current management system is urgently needed to ensure it is completely watertight," Llewellyn said.

By ploughing into Douglas shoals at speed, the Shen Neng 1 has already destroyed corals and damaged the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area.

The Capricorn Cays where the ship is wrecked is a major breeding area for seabirds and marine turtles. Onshore there is the Shoalwater Bay Ramsar-listed wetlands to the north, the Keppel Islands to the East, and Curtis island, an important seagrass area and nesting beach for endangered marine turtles, to the south.

"The ship is carrying more than 6000 barrels of heavy fuel oil. It is disabled, wrecked on a reef and taking a pounding," Llewellyn said.

"It is a ticking environmental time-bomb. If the fuel tanks were to breach it would be an environmental disaster of huge proportions, not to mention the economic impacts of such a leak on tourism and fishing businesses in the area.

"While authorities decide how they are going to salvage the vessel and remove the oil that is onboard, we need to see containment systems in place, and that means booms and skimmers, so that any oil that reaches the water can be collected and removed."

Earth Hour kicks off to great start in Pacific

2010-03-27

Sydney, Australia: Earth Hour's founding city of Sydney, Australia has helped launch the 2010 event with another resounding participation in the now-global call for a more harmonious relationship between humans and nature.

The event in Sydney was heralded – as usual – with the lights going out on the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Opera House with other major landmarks in State capitals and nearly 150 other communities joining in.

Melbourne had an equivalent double with historic Flinders Street station and modern icon Federation Square going dark, while in Brisbane, the lights went out on the city's Storey Bridge. Beers by candlelight in pubs across the vast country were accompanied by cheering as the lights went out. Events being staged ranged from meditation sessions towards a better world to beach parties.

Earth Hour had got off to a much quieter start in the remote Chatham Islands, close by the International Date Line in the western Pacific, when residents turning off diesel generators became the first of an expected hundreds of millions to turn off lights in a global expression of concern over climate change.

By the time, lights are turned back on in Samoa 26 hours later (due to a kink in the International Date Line), the tiny Chatham island's community of about 600 will have been joined by seven of the world's ten largest cities - Shanghai, Mumbai, Beijing, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Moscow and Dehli.

"Earth Hour provides a global platform for millions of people to voice their concern about the devastating effects of climate change," said WWF Director General James Leape who is on hand to help turning off the lights in Beijing's Forbidden City.

As the event launched, a record 125 countries and territories (up from 88 in 2009) and over 4000 cities, towns and municipalities (1200 more than at the commencement of Earth Hour 2009) had signed up to join the event.
"When Earth Hour started in Sydney in 2007, we never in our wildest dreams imagined it would catch on like this," said Founder and Executive Director, Andy Ridley.
"The world's citizens know that the time to act is now – the planet can't wait. More and more of the world's people, more and more of the world's businesses and more and more of the world's communities want to take action themselves and want their leaders to keep working on a solution for a better, healthy world."

Sky tower LED light show brackets Earth Hour in Auckland

Auckland's Sky Tower, a consistent Earth Hour supporter, has switched to more energy efficient LED lighting for its upper section since last year's Earth Hour. The 328 metre tower, New Zealand's highest human-made structure, staged a build up to Earth Hour by switching off for incrementally longer periods all this week. The new LED lights signaled the start and finish of Earth Hour with light shows in the Earth Hour colors of green and blue.

Nearly 50 cities, towns and rural districts in New Zealand participated in Earth Hour, with other major landmarks going off including the Beehive and Parliament buildings in Wellington, the Hawkes Bay Opera House and the Giant Kiwi Fruit in Te Puke.

Noted NZ film director and comedian Taika Waitiki said "If we can make a huge change with just one finger flicking a switch imagine what we could do with two fingers...a hand... an arm and a leg....four legs....sixteen arms, three heads and a long tail with a huge spiked ball on the end... just imagine what we could do with a creature like that".

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, now heading the United Nations Development Program, said "In 2008 I launched WWF-New Zealand's first ever Earth Hour in Christchurch. Its message was simple but powerful : that our individual actions may be small, but together we can make a difference.

"Since then I've seen the Earth Hour message grow as increasing numbers of people - in New Zealand and around the world - recognise the importance of personal action in the movement to stop dangerous climate change."

Televisions stay on in Fiji

Lights went out but many televisions stayed on in Fiji, as residents followed the lead of Fijian sevens rugby captain, Emosi Vucago, amongst the first to sign up to Fiji's Earth Hour. Fijians followed their team take part in the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens tournament by candlelight, with the result a resounding 45-7 win against Portugal.

For those not quite so addicted to rugby, there was a concert at the Ratu Sukuna Park in Suva, launching the theme of "Going beyond the Hour". Among those outlining energy saving measures in the longer term were Pacific area US embassies.

Tuvalu tries for carbon free Earth Hour

In Tuvalu, one of the nations most threatened by climate change due to rising sea levels, government and people are trying not just for a light free Earth Hour but for a completely carbon neutral Earth Hour. Power will be cut to the entire island nation, lights and generators on boats in ports across the country will be switched off and car drivers and motorcycle riders will be urged to stay off the roads.

For further information contact:

WWF Global media team

Kirsten Hodgon khodgon@wwf.org.au
Jade Glashoff jglashoff@wwf.org.au

+61 404 929 243 (24h)

Danish PM's stitch-up on Copenhagen unravels in Beijing

2009-11-28

Gland, Switzerland - WWF has welcomed the very strong signal from leading emerging economies that the Copenhagen climate change conference is far too important to be stitched up in the usual way by the usual suspects in the developed world.

At a meeting in Beijing Saturday, representatives of Brazil, South Africa, India and China (the BASIC countries) indicated they intend to reject a draft Danish "political agreement" at the Copenhagen climate conference which is regarded as the developed world's preferred outcome for the conference. The Danish Prime Minister, who has spent the last month circulating the world to talk down prospects of a strong, legally binding deal in Copenhagen, is currently in Trinidad and Tobago for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

"We are not surprised the emerging economies have laid down this challenge for the developed world," said said Kim Carstensen, leader of WWF's Global Climate Initiative. "Quite frankly the Danish proposal is incredibly weak and the developing world aren't gullible."

Carstensen said that the stance of the BASIC countries, dissension by African countries at the recent Barcelona negotiations session and calls from small island states and nations vulnerable to climate change impacts showed a growing rebellion against the feeble commitments on emissions cuts and climate financing from the developed world.

"Those who will suffer the most from climate change impacts are sending an ever stronger and clearer message to those who have done the most to cause them," Carstensen said. "We need clear commitments, we need a legally binding agreement, and not just nice words about a political will that's not there.

"The developed world needs to respond to the science with much deeper emissions cuts, much more new money on the table and much more willingness to share the technologies for low carbon development.

G20 finance ministers fail to reach green on climate financing

2009-11-07

St Andrews, Scotland – Finance ministers of the world's dominant economies failed to reach agreement on the financing required for a global agreement to stave off catastrophic climate change, WWF said today as the G20 finance ministers meeting here broke up with no resolution to issues dividing developed and emerging economies.

The lack of progress made by the G20 in St. Andrews, follows another week of inconclusive negotiations in UN climate talks in Barcelona as the world heads towards the crucial UN climate conference in Copenhagen in a month's time.

With the G20 now having considered the climate financing issue three times without reaching common ground, WWF remains sceptical about today's promise to make further progress before Copenhagen.

"The G20 Finance Ministers meeting turned out to be a mostly irrelevant sideshow on the way to the talks in Copenhagen in a months' time," said Dr Richard Dixon, Director of WWF Scotland.

"Failure to come to agreement here is a major disappointment.

"This is a group that can throw money at collapsing banks but cannot find adequate figures for the far worse challenge to the global economy of a collapsing climate system."

In detail, the G20 ministers acknowledged the need to increase significantly and urgently the scale of funding but failed to make any reference to the sums required, estimated to be around $160bn a year of public financing.

They also failed to agree on new sources of funding for a climate deal, such as auctioning emissions credits and levies on aviation and shipping.

"Talk of a financial transaction tax which has the potential to raise hundreds of billions in new funding every year turned out to be a red herring without solid political support," Dr Dixon said.

The G20 agreed some principals on a mechanism to administer and distribute these funds but failed to turn these into concrete proposals and - despite last week's pledges from Europe - no new money was put on the table to help the most vulnerable countries adapt to a changing climate.

It is estimated the immediate need for the most vulnerable nations is around $10bn a year.

WWF endorsed the G20s continuing professed interest in winding back fossil fuel use subsidies, but said the group needed to focus its main attention on getting an effective global deal on climate.

"If we are to keep the planet below the danger threshold of a 2ºC temperature rise, the rich nations of the world are going to have to help developing countries follow a low-carbon development path and help them cope with the impacts of current and future climate change," Dr Dixon said.

"We wanted to see solid proposals on how the money would be raised, managed and distributed and an indication of how soon the countries most vulnerable to climate change will receive assistance. The G20 has failed to deliver and the real work will now have to be done at Copenhagen."