Policy briefings and discussion papers
Through cross sectoral collaborations and engagement with peak bodies across all levels of government, business and NGO’s, the Climate Action Beacon directly influences policy development for climate action. CAB identifies problems and challenges, develops policies and strategies, models likely futures with and without interventions, monitors and reports on interventions, and enables adaptive management.
Sustainable Development Goals
Griffith University is aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is committed to taking action on climate change and strengthening global partnerships to address this issue, collaborating on innovative solutions for a sustainable and resilient future.
Research Informing Policy Briefing Notes
Policy Briefing Note 1/23 - Natural forests in climate mitigation and limiting to 1.5 degrees
This Science information Policy Briefing Note has been prepared for the United Nations Climate COP 28. This Briefing Note provides information on the contribution of natural forests, including primary forests and intact forest landscapes, to climate mitigation and meeting the Paris Agreement’s long term temperature goal and intermediate targets as guided by science.
Policy Briefing Note 3/22 - Carbon Accounting Improvements
Five areas are identified where carbon accounting improvements can be made in this Science Informing Policy Briefing Note 3/22 by the Griffith Climate Action Beacon - Carbon Accounting Improvements for Operationalising the Glasgow Climate Pact Article 38. These include 1) comprehensive accounts for all biosphere carbon, including for areas not under human management 2) reporting all carbon stock and stock changes as gross emissions not just present annual net emissions 3) reporting condition of carbon stocks relative to ecosystem integrity 4) reporting on the time horizon for carbon stock longevity and 5) reference levels that report on carbon carrying capacity for specific ecosystems.
Policy Briefing Note 2/22 - Ecosystem Integrity to Maximise Mitigation
This Science Informing Policy Briefing Note 2/22 by the Griffith Climate Action Beacon - Using Ecosystem Integrity to Maximize Mitigation and Minimize Risk in International Forest Policy - makes a number of points, including highlighting that not all forests are equal, sets out an ecosystem integrity framework, notes that ecosystem integrity can be used for evaluating forest-based mitigation and adaptation actions, and highlights how the conversion of primary forests into commodity production forests is incentivized under existing accounting rules.
Policy Briefing Note 1/22 - Economic Value of Forest Ecosystems
Limitations in the existing literature relating to the economic valuation of forest ecosystem services is highlighted in this Science Informing Policy Briefing Note 1/22 by the Griffith Climate Action Beacon - The Economic Value of the Planet's Forest Ecosystems. One of the key messages is that important forest regions and ecological zones are under-studied.
Policy Briefing Note 2/21 - The Three Pillars of Integrated-Based Forest Management
The second-released Science Informing Policy Brief - The Three Pillars of Integrated-Based Forest Management. A large contributor to the decline of forests is unsustainable industrial demand for timber, beef, soy and palm oil products. Poor forest management is also a significant cause of forest loss and degradation. Effective management can play a key role in maintaining, enhancing and restoring forests – actions that demonstrate and uphold their ecological attributes and societal values. This policy brief sets out the basis for a new framework for forest landscape management built on the three pillars of ecosystem integrity, strong governance and effective planning.
Policy Briefing Note 1/21 - Reforming Carbon Accounting
The Griffith University Climate Action Beacon has released its first Science Informing Policy Brief - Reforming Carbon Accounting to Support Nature-Based Solutions. The core problem is that data reported under the UNFCCC for net emissions and removals related to human activities are insufficient for the understanding of the carbon dynamics of ecosystems. The system of carbon accounting employed is a critical issue because accounting rules influence the reported emissions reductions, and thus directly impact policy outcomes. If the accounting rules do not fully reflect the mitigation outcomes, then a gap opens up between policy goals and actual mitigation achieved, thus undermining credibility as well as contributing to mitigation failure.
Policy Discussion Papers
Discussion Paper 1/24 - How can we promote the wise use of "Net Zero Emission" commitments?
The first-released Policy Discussion Paper of 2024 - How can we promote the wise of "Net Zero Emission" commitments? By examining the implications of NZE commitments made by various entities, including governments, businesses, and financial institutions, the paper aims to identify potential misinterpretations and unintended consequences that could undermine decarbonisation efforts. Ultimately, the goal is to provide insights and recommendations for clarifying the concept of NZE and ensuring its effective implementation across sectors to address the global challenge of climate change.
Discussion Paper 3/23 - Critical reforms for effective and timely action to prevent Irreparable harm
The third-released Policy Discussion Paper of 2023 by the Griffith Climate Action Beacon - Critical reforms for effective and timely action to prevent irreparable harm to Earth's climate and biodiversity: A call for a Joint CBD & UNFCCC SBSTA Work Plan on Climate and Biodiversity Action.
Policy Discussion Paper 2/23 - Connectivity Conservation II
The purpose of this policy discussion paper - Connectivity Conservation: A strategy to accelerate effective action from the practitioner’s perspective - is to promote discussion about where and how the Australian Government can be most effective in providing strategic support for additional initiatives that enhance the repair and restoration of the Australian environment, an endeavour that has gained extra importance following recent national commitments to global biodiversity framework goals.
Discussion Paper 1/23 - Connectivity Conservation
The purpose of this policy discussion paper - Connectivity Conservation: forging the nexus between biodiversity protection and climate action in Australia - is to provide a summary of the importance of connectivity conservation for protecting and restoring biodiversity and ecosystems in Australia, including supporting Australia’s response to climate change. It also provides guidance on the implications of connectivity for Australia’s national biodiversity plan and related policy areas.
Discussion Paper 3/22 - Evaluating Planning for Integrity-Based Forest Management
The purpose of this discussion paper - Griffith Climate Action Beacon Discussion Paper 3/22 - Evaluating Planning for Integrity-Based Forest Management (INFOM) - is to highlight a framework for evaluating the effective planning pillar to support better landscape approaches. The discussion paper summarises the importance of planning for landscape management, the basis of the framework and, importantly, how it can be used.
Discussion Paper 2/22 - Burning Forest Biomass For Energy
The second-released Discussion Paper by the Griffith Climate Action Beacon - Burning Forest Biomass for Energy: Not a source of clean energy and harmful to forest ecosystem integrity. One of the seven key message from the report is that - A major shift to using forest biomass burning for energy comes with grave risks of highly perverse outcomes, including increased CO2 missions and negative impacts on forest ecosystem integrity.
Discussion Paper 1/22 - Managing Climate Change Risks to World Heritage Using the In Danger List
This Discussion Paper considers how the World Heritage Convention’s ‘List of World Heritage in Danger’ could be used more effectively for managing sites threatened by climate change or where climate change has already caused significant degradation. The purpose of the paper is to stimulate ideas and discussion to help further develop and finalise the draft Policy Document on climate action for World Heritage which is due to be adopted by the General Assembly of State Parties to the Convention in 2023.
Discussion Paper 1/21 - "Primary Forests" Report for UN FAO
In March 2021, the Griffith University, Climate Action Beacon, released a discussion paper - A Review of Definitions, Data, and Methods for Country-level Assessment and Reporting of Primary Forest. The paper is intended to facilitate discussion among national correspondents and other experts in workshops hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. The discussion paper - i) reviews and assesses definitions relating to primary forests; ii) collates and evaluates datasets and methods currently available for measuring the extent of primary forests; and iii) provides options for defining, assessing and reporting on primary forests.
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