Antonio: "It is the quality of the climate". (Shakespeare, 1986)

Climate change is considered to be one of the most serious problems facing the world today. It is one of the more serious threats to the sustainability of the world's environment, the health and well-being of its people and the global economy (HSD Linkages, 2001). Increasing scientific evidence of the impact of human interference with the climate system, coupled with growing public concern over global environmental issues, began to push climate change onto the political agenda in the mid-1980s (UNFCCC, 2001). One of the results of this was the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which was a framework for action set up to combat the major issues of climate change. The processes highest on the agenda were those of reducing greenhouse gasses (GHG's), developing a 'renewables industry', assisting third world village development and creating greater international concern.

The UNFCCC and it's subsequent agreements and protocols

The major ways in which this process is being driven is through Mitigation Options, Policy Instruments and through research.

There have also been subsequent COP's since then.

Assisting third world village development is an important process in combating climate change because it aims to create a more sustainable environment with a focus on reducing the energy demand of the village and is directed at developing the village with the topic of climate change at the forefront of the development so as keep in mind the implementation of such things as renewable energy and GHG cutting measures to avoid future problems like the ones we are facing today. Assisting third world village development is a process in itself, but is also taking into acccount both the above mentioned processes as well. Assisting third world village development is being driven primarily through adaptive measures and information, education and research. Though the transfer of technology and training to these developing countries is also a mitigation option (Jepma et al, 1998).

Collective decision making is an important measure for creating greater international concern as it allows certain groups or parties to work together on the various issues. The groups or parties are commonly referred to as subsidiary bodies (UNEP, 2000). Collective decision making is relevant in all the major processes undertaken in the move to combat climate change, especially creating greater international concern. Some of the most significant collective decision making bodies in relation to climate change are: the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); the Subsidiary body for science and technical advice (SBSTA); the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI); and the joint "United Nations, Commonwealth, Western Australian Government International Centre for the Application of Solar Energy" . The IPCC put together "Activities Implemented Jointly", a program which provides opportunities for interactions between countries (especially the North and South). The North is encouraged to invest in emission reduction strategies in the South if this is less costly than doing it in the North.(Jepma et al, 1998). The SBSTA links together scientific, technical and technological assessments, the information provided by competent international bodies and the policy-oriented needs of the COP. The SBI was created to develop recommendations to assist the COP in the review and assessment of the implementation of the Convention and in the preparation and implementation of its decisions ((HSD Linkages, 2001)). And, most relevant to us, the joint "United Nations, Commonwealth, Western Australian Government International Centre for the Application of Solar Energy" which promotes and facilitates the application of renewable technologies in developing countries (Commonwealth of Australia, 1997). One of the main ways in which the ideas developed by these collective decision making bodies can be applied to creating greater international concern or awareness is through Policy Instruments.

Perhaps the most important method for developing a renewables industry is information, education and research. Education, information and research aims to increase public awareness and knowledge about renewable energy.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Commonwealth Australia, Policy Instruments, Cost Planning, Green Certificates, Mitigation Options, Maquarie Dictionary, HSD Linkages, Change UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, Reducing GHG's, climate change, policy instruments, international concern, information research, education information research, education information, et al, renewables industry, third world, third world village, village development, creating international concern, creating international, developing renewables industry, world village development,
Approximate Word count = 5529
Approximate Pages = 22 (250 words per page double spaced)