Here are four ways the current electricity system favours existing, higher emitting technologies. These must be overcome to rapidly cut Australia’s emissions.
New Zealand has announced a more ambitious pledge to cut emissions, but the commitment relies on buying credits from offshore. There is no system for doing this yet, or for ensuring genuine cuts.
The near future may be similar to the mid-Pliocene warm period a few million years ago.
Daniel Eskridge / shutterstock
French President Emmanuel Macron has called ‘pants-on-fire’ to prime minister Scott Morrison over his handling of the cancellation of the submarine deal with France
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson at a COP26 launch conference in February 2020.
Reuters/Alamy Stock Photo
Leaders of the world’s wealthiest 20 countries failed to reach any major commitments on climate action, including a timeline to phase out fossil fuels.
Reach net zero requires policies spanning energy, industry, transport, agriculture, land use, even trade. Climate change is a whole-of-government issue. It’s every minister’s problem.
Coal accounted for 10 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions globally in 2018. Germany plans to close its coal-fired power stations, like this one in Luetzerath, by 2038.
(AP Photo/Michael Probst)
A global emissions-credit trading system could bring an end to the production of coal-fired electricity, spur innovation and help countries meet their greenhouse gas emissions goals.
Pacific nations look to New Zealand for climate leadership. It has enshrined carbon neutrality by 2050 and a 1.5°C target in law, but, so far, emissions have continued to rise.