No climate for delay on carbon removals

Climate finance is emerging as a central theme at COP27 as countries call for help.

At the Australia Pavilion, Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen is showcasing the nation's work under new political leadership as international negotiations head into their final week.

But Carbon Market Institute CEO John Connor, also flying in for the United Nations conference in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, is concerned progress is too slow - for markets and the environment.

"We've got real impacts on the ground that are beyond adaptation," he tells AAP.

Australia's Pacific neighbours are among those calling for rich nations and heavy emitters to do more in the aftermath of increasingly frequent natural catastrophes and Mr Connor says hopes were high more would have been bundled up by now, particularly on carbon markets and the summit's loss and damage agenda.

"It's not all tied up in a bow," he says.

"It's going to be down to the political negotiators."

Mr Connor says there's been "incremental progress" on the machinery of a global carbon market, which isn't expected to be finalised until 2024.

"It can't be any later than that ... it does impact investment and planning."

But future decarbonisation, which requires new technologies and processes across all industries, isn't the only pathway to net zero, 

"We should be encouraging companies to take responsibility for their emissions and environmental impact now, Mr Connor argues.

"We have a biodiversity and a climate crisis now, and people who say we should just focus on the decarbonisation pathway and a focus on last-resort offsets towards the end is a misguided strategy."

He says it's important legitimate, long-term, high-integrity carbon projects can attract investment as carbon credits are not just offsets to emissions, they're a climate response in their own right.

Governments know they can't get to net zero emissions alone.

For Financial Services Institute of Australasia CEO Yasser El-Ansary, the role of banks, investors, innovators and fund managers is clear.

"Capital is what will ultimately bring about the change we need to happen," he says.

"As the saying goes, 'money talks' and on the issue of net zero the money has been 'talking' for some time already."

Mr El-Ansary points out that many of Australia's leading proponents for net zero in the domestic economy are financial services institutions.

"But for the past decade governments in Australia have largely failed in preparing for our energy transition at the pace required and we are all now paying the price for that inaction."

A "big positive" is that the new federal government seems to have a much clearer and consistent message for the private sector about a significant acceleration in the pace of change, he says.

Developing countries need $US1 trillion a year in climate finance to cut emissions, tackle loss and damage from climate change and restore ecosystems, according to research released by Egypt and the UK at the talks.

Global investments in renewable energy must triple by 2050 for the world to reach net zero, the World Meteorological Organisation says.

Former Bank of England governor Mark Carney has called for the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero to stop financing economic activity that causes deforestation and increase investment in nature-based projects.

The grouping was established at last year's talks, bringing together institutions with $US135 trillion in assets under management.

It's estimated the financing and investment required to help accelerate the world's transition towards renewable energy sources exceeds US$9 trillion each year between now and 2030.

"That's a monumental commitment and one that will ultimately require governments right around the world to prioritise this challenge in the same way funding education, healthcare and infrastructure is prioritised in developed economies," Mr El-Ansary says.

But investors need a degree of certainty and predictability around policy and regulatory settings in order to make long-term commitments of capital. 

"Uncertainty is the natural enemy of long-term investment," he says. 

"Think about the role of our super funds in Australia; they must make decisions in the interests of their members - all of us - which means they have to carefully manage risk and avoid high level of uncertainty."

Meanwhile, accountants are developing the governance and sustainability standards that will make sure the actions of organisations match their promises.

Last year's climate talks in Glasgow marked five-years since the landmark Paris Agreement to ramp up countries' contributions to reducing emissions.

There were important announcements to support change, such as the establishment of the International Sustainability Standards Board and the Glasgow alliance.

Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand business reform leader Karen McWilliams tells AAP this year's talks are being heralded as the "implementation COP" after Glasgow.

"We have seen some follow up announcements," she says. 

"The ISSB has announced a new partnership framework to support capacity building, particularly in emerging and developing economies and for smaller entities."

The federal government has already committed to mandate climate-related disclosures for Australian companies, and said in last month's budget these must be aligned with international standards.

The standards board has confirmed it will issue final standards, including on climate-related disclosures, as early as possible in 2023.