Policy briefings and discussion papers

Through engagement with peak bodies and cross sectoral collaborations with all levels of government (locally, nationally and internationally), businesses and non-government organisations (NGOs), the Climate Action Beacon directly influences policy development for climate action (SDG 13). The 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.

Griffith Climate Action Beacon has networks to partner and be involved in SDG Policy Development. Explore the policy briefing notes and discussion papers that have arisen from our research collaborations with regional and national governments, businesses and NGOs.

13 Climate action 17 Partnerships for the goals

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

In line with our commitment to the SDGs, we collaborate with policymakers, including government bodies and NGOs, to shape and provide policy recommendations that align with SDG objectives. Through our participation in boards, professional groups, and industry associations, we actively contribute to the development of national policies and strategies, helping to identify key challenges and issues related to the SDGs.

Briefing Note 2/24 - Natural forest values for sustainable income generation

This science Informing Policy Briefing Note 2/24 focusses on carbon carrying capacity in primary and old-growth forests as the reference level to assess mitigation potential, demonstrated for European forest.

Calling for a work programme to establish priorities for synergistic climate and biodiversity action

This technical brief for COP29 advocates establishing a work program to prioritise ecosystem protection and restoration. It calls for integrated efforts across global frameworks to combat climate and biodiversity crises by safeguarding high-integrity ecosystems, enhancing carbon storage, and preventing degradation.

Briefing note - Contribution of the Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry Sector to Australia's GHG

The purpose of this briefing note is to provide key points and summary statistics that quantitatively explain the significant contribution the Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry sector (LULUCF) makes to Australia's national greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory as reported under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Paris Agreement emissions reduction target.

Briefing Note 1/24 - Carbon carrying capacity in primary and old-growth forests

This science Informing Policy Briefing Note 1/24 focusses on carbon carrying capacity in primary and old-growth forests as the reference level to assess mitigation potential, demonstrated for European forest.

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.

Our impact

Through our involvement and engagement across the sector, the Climate Action Beacon provides advice for and inform policies aligned to SDG themes. Work from researchers in the CAB have informed policy development across the globe, including – but not limited to – that developed by the Governments of South Africa, Finland, Canada and New Zealand, NGOs like the World Wide Fund for Nature, as well as the World Health Organisation, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, IPCC , UNICEF , UN Office of Disaster Risk Reduction, Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, and more!

Our partners

Relationships with regional NGOs and governments for SDG policy partners have included:

To find out more about our research with our partners and the impact on their policies, practices, and interventions

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Our research

Research from the CAB addresses current and future economic, social and policy challenges associated with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal, SDG 13, Climate Action. The CAB seeks to facilitate research that enhances understanding, policy and practice. The 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.

Our events

Our impact is enhanced through a diverse range of community-based and government partnerships, projects, events, and outreach activities. The Climate Action Beacon hosts and presents at various events, including conferences, public seminars, community workshops and the Conference of the Parties (United Nations Climate Change Conference).

The Climate Ready Initiative

The Climate Ready Initiative (CRI) is a partnership-based social impact initiative that works with society to help shape a prosperous and just future for all. We seek to enable climate action by unlocking the economic and social development pathways that value net-zero emissions and climate resilience.

The Climate Ready Initiative is guided by a board of diverse and trusted eminent leaders from across all sectors – government, industry and NGOs – that aims to bring society together to develop a common agenda for climate action, investment and ultimately a sustainable development trajectory.

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Phone
(07) 5552 7263
Email
climateactionbeacon@griffith.edu.au

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