Elsie Lange
The latest Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) report released on April 4 said limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees celsius will require “major transitions” in the energy sector.
The Working Group III report, titled Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change, states that limiting warming will require a cut to greenhouse gas emissions before 2025 at the latest, and a reduction by 43 per cent by 2030.
Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group president David Gormley-O’Brien said it was vital not to adhere to the “vague, futuristic targets of net-zero emissions by 2050”, but to “go all out now” to reduce net emissions by 2030.
Dr Gormley-O’Brien urged Australia’s policymakers to adopt the four options outlined by the IPCC report, including a move away from coal and gas, carbon sequestration in agriculture, fuel switching in transport and shift to sustainable diets.
“Electric vehicles powered by low-GHG emissions electricity have the largest potential to reduce land-based transport emissions on a life-cycle basis,” Dr Gormley-O’Brien said.
Climate Council’s Andrew Stock, , said the report showed time was running out to act on climate change.
“Our window to avoid the worst of climate change is rapidly closing,” Mr Stock said.
“Australia is one of the world’s largest exporters of fossil fuels and we have the highest emissions per capita among large developed nations.
“By strengthening our climate commitments and actions this decade, we can have a huge impact on the future of our planet.”
Dr Gormley-O’Brien said it was integral that irrespective of political leaning, that pressure is exerted on policymakers.
“At all levels of government – local, state, national and international – to work in a concerted manner… towards the decarbonisation of our energy production, our economy, our food production and our transport in the next eight years,” Dr Gormley-O’Brien said.
“And not simply defer the burden to the next generation in 2050, because by then the window of opportunity will have been well and truly slammed shut.”
