Professor Michael Jeffery, QC

Michael Jeffery is Professor in Environmental the UWS School of Law and head of the UWS Social and Environmental Responsibility Research Group.

Professor Jeffery says there can always be last minute surprises, but it’s doubtful there will be a binding legal framework that will lead to commitments to reduce carbon emissions. He predicts they will make statements that they hope to reduce emissions by 2020 or 2050, but there won’t be any legal compulsion to achieve these targets.

He says people have to change their behaviour, and so far there hasn’t been much evidence this will happen voluntarily. He says there’s also doubt that mandatory targets, such as those attached to the Kyoto protocol, will be achievable, considering many of the Kyoto signatories will miss their targets.

He says the world is past the point of allocating blame, and the developed countries need to work with developing nations to bring about meaningful change.

Past Media Releases

• Professor Jeffery speaks at symposium on global sustainability

Media Interviews

For media interviews with Professor Jeffery contact, Kristy Gleeson, Office of Public Affairs.