Friday, 7 September, 2007

by Prime Minister John Howard
Parliament House Australia

Australia and the Russian Federation
Climate Change and Energy

Today President Vladimir Putin and I have agreed to cooperate on the global challenges of climate change and energy, including in the APEC Leaders Meeting this weekend. Australia and Russia share much in common, as two of the world's largest suppliers of energy, in ensuring economic growth, energy security and environmental sustainability.

We have agreed that the world needs to make progress towards a new international climate change framework, to which all major emitters should make substantial contributions. Australia and Russia will work together to achieve international consensus on a long-term global aspirational goal for stabilising and then reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Australia and Russia will work closely together, with other members of the �Umbrella Group' coalition, to pursue our shared interests in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. We will support launching negotiations for a post-2012 agreement at the UN climate change conference in Indonesia in December.

Australia and the Russian Federation will continue our work to develop and deploy low emission technologies, including in carbon sequestration and methane and hydrogen technologies. We have agreed that reducing emissions from deforestation is an important part of global action on climate change.

Nuclear power - as a zero-emissions technology - has much to contribute to addressing global climate change. President Putin has outlined Russia's program to significantly expand its nuclear power industry. Australia, as a leading and reliable supplier of uranium, has a stake in the expansion of the safe and secure use of nuclear energy.

I am very pleased, therefore, that Australia and the Russian Federation have concluded, and signed, an Agreement on Cooperation in the Use of Nuclear Energy for Peaceful Purposes. This new agreement will allow the supply of Australian uranium for use in Russia's civil nuclear power industry, and provide a framework for broader cooperation on peaceful nuclear-related activities.

I have also expressed my appreciation to President Putin for Russia's support for Australian participation in the Generation IV International Forum, a partnership of governments working together on fourth generation nuclear power plant technology.

Australia and Russia, as major energy suppliers, have globally significant mining industries. As such, we have agreed to collaborate in developing and implementing the APEC Mining Task Force, with a particular focus on sustainability. Australia will organise two workshops on sustainable mining, with Russia's support, in November 2007.