Taylor Happy With Australia’s Emissions Reduction Efforts

We could all do with some good news – but unfortunately the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change didn’t deliver it.

In a nutshell, things are going to shit and there’s a lot of damage already locked in.

“Global warming of 1.5°C and 2°C will be exceeded during the 21st century unless deep reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions occur in the coming decades.”

It’s now expected the 1.5°C mark will be exceeded before 2040, so this is not a problem that will be left for future generations to endure. The impacts are here and now and will only increase unless we collectively pull our fingers out.

The full report, which can be downloaded here, is more than 3,900 pages. An Australasia-specific regional fact sheet based on the report notes the following with very high or high confidence:

• Australian land areas have warmed by around 1.4°C between ~1910 and 2020.
• Annual temperature changes have emerged above natural variability in all land regions.
• Heat extremes have increased, cold extremes have decreased, and both are projected to continue.
• Relative sea level rose at a rate higher than the global average in recent decades.
• The intensity, frequency and duration of fire weather events are projected to increase throughout Australia.
• An increase in marine heatwaves and ocean acidity is observed and projected.

.. and so on.

Taylor – Australia Playing Its Part

So, it’s all looking rather grim. But a press release from Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor released late yesterday assures us Australia is a lifter, not a leaner.

“Australia is committed to achieving net zero emissions as soon as possible, and preferably by 2050, and to meeting and exceeding our 2030 commitment, as we already have with our 2020 targets.”

As soon as possible? Preferably? It doesn’t really inspire confidence.

“When it comes to emissions reduction, our record is one of delivery and achievement that Australians can be proud of.”

Perhaps Minister Taylor is working on the premise that if you repeat something often enough, people will believe it.

But many aren’t.

Greenpeace: “Act Now, You Idiots!”

Greenpeace Australia Pacific certainly doesn’t.

“No more excuses and no more delays on climate change,” said David Ritter, CEO of Greenpeace Australia Pacific. “This is decision time for every political and business leader in Australia. This is the issue on which you will be judged by history and by the children of Australia, whose futures are on the line.”

Among other things, Greenpeace is calling for the closure of all coal burning power stations by 2030 at the latest. At this point in time, we’ll still be burning coal for power generation through to 2048.

Greens: 2030 Targets “A Death Sentence”

Greens Leader Adam Bandt said the IPCC report shows the Morrison Government’s 2030 targets are a “death sentence for Australia”.

“After this report, failure to lift 2030 targets is criminal negligence,” said Mr. Bandt. “The rest of the world understands that if we don’t do more by 2030, we all go over the climate cliff, so the Liberals’ 2030 denial and Labor’s 2030 silence are putting Australian lives at risk.”

CEC – Net Zero A Priority, Not A Preference

The Clean Energy Council points out the IPCC report indicates net-zero emissions by 2050 should be a priority, not a preference.

“Australia has tremendous potential to produce low-cost electricity from renewables which can power the country and the world, and we must lean into the clean energy transition, not seek to hold back the tide,” said CEC CEO Kane Thornton. “When the upside of taking action is so good for jobs, the economy and the environment, why would we delay?”

And just on that note, some might like to think we’re doing pretty well in Australia in terms of a clean energy transition – particularly given the uptake of solar power systems by millions of Australian households and businesses. But according to  new research published yesterday by the Australia Institute’s Climate & Energy Program, we’re lagging behind many countries. It claims Australia’s reliance on fossil fuel for energy has in fact risen since 2005.

Climate Council – A Massive Wake-Up Call For Australia

Based on the IPCC report, the Climate Council is recommending Australia slash its emissions by 75% (below 2005 levels) by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2035.

“No political leader or decision maker reading this landmark report will be able to claim they were unaware of the profound threat we face,” said Climate Council spokesman Professor Will Steffen.

Here’s hoping Minister Taylor does so – even just this much more manageable 42-page Summary For Policy Makers could be a good place to start.

Original Source: https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/taylor-emissions-ipcc-mb2109/