IPCC authors go beyond the headlines to explain how 1.5°C warming is measured – and why there’s still reason to hope, and act, if Earth exceeds that limit.
Barnaby Joyce’s pro-mining stance is at odds with the more progressive quarters of the party, and puts the Nationals in a difficult position on global carbon tariffs.
If problems in such schemes are not addressed, the credibility of soil carbon trading will be undermined. Ultimately the climate - and the planet - will be the loser.
An emissions trading scheme is New Zealand’s main policy to tackle climate change. But to bring down emissions quickly enough, other policies will need to transform transport and agriculture.
Renewables form an ever-greater share of the electricity mix. But elsewhere in the energy sector – in transport, industry and buildings – emissions reduction is very slow.
To date, courts have often been reluctant to interfere in what is viewed as an issue best left to policymakers. These recent judgements, and others, suggest things are changing.
None of Australia’s highest-emitting energy firms are fully or even closely aligned with global climate goals. Just one goes even partway, and five appeared to be taking no action at all.
The Morrison government could have backed Australia’s clean energy sector to create jobs and stimulate the post-pandemic economy. Instead, it’s sending the nation on a fool’s errand.
The new commitments of state governments go some way to filling the void left by the lack of a national climate policy. The states should, and can, coordinate their efforts. Here’s how.
To achieve sustainable growth under the constraint that consumption is independent from the use of natural resources, we must move along the path of qualitative growth.
Humanity can still limit global warming to 1.5°C this century. But political action will determine whether it actually does. Conflating the two questions amounts to dangerous, misplaced punditry.
There was palpable relief as Biden brought the US back to the table on global climate action, warning “we have to get this done”. Depressingly, Morrison showed little sign of hearing the message.
History shows how the states and territories can step into a policy breach when the federal government fails. It’s time they band together on electric vehicles.
This is not an imaginary future dystopia. It’s a scientific projection of Australia under 3°C of global warming – a future we must both strenuously try to avoid, but also prepare for.
If Australia pushes ahead with producing fossil fuels, we may lock in a new high-emissions energy system, or one that’s uncompetitive. Clearly, green hydrogen is the best way forward.
We hear a lot about the Morrison government ‘kicking the can down the road’ on emissions reduction. New research reveals the precise burden that forces onto young Australians.
Fellow - Melbourne Law School; Senior Researcher - Climate Council; Associate - Australian-German Climate and Energy College, The University of Melbourne