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.
Plus how to interpret the outcome of the pre-COP26 summit.
For more than 20 years, Canada has repeatedly missed its targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is the only G7 country whose emissions have increased since 2010.
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Australia must treble its emissions reduction targets and reach net-zero emissions by 2035. Without this and other radical global action, the chance to hold warming to well below 2°C will pass us by.
Lesley Hughes, Macquarie University; John Hewson, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University; Malte Meinshausen, The University of Melbourne, and Will Steffen, Australian National University
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.
Yachts, such as Roman Abramovich’s “Eclipse,” make up the biggest share of emissions for billionaires who own one.
AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau
James Renwick, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
The Climate Change Commission releases New Zealand’s first comprehensive plan to cut emissions, calling on the government to “pick up the pace”.
Global fossil fuel emissions dropped by about seven per cent in 2020 compared with 2019. But a rebound is likely to occur when lockdowns ease up unless COVID-19 recovery packages focus on ‘green recovery.’
(AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Several countries have made pledges to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to zero by mid-century. But new research finds the remaining carbon budget will be depleted before we get there.
Daniel D'Hotman, University of Oxford and Steven Hamilton, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
The end of coal-fired generation in Australia is inevitable. But the federal government can do more to ensure an orderly transition to renewables – avoiding price spikes and supporting workers.
Canada’s climate plan includes adding more electric vehicle charging stations, improving energy efficiency of homes and buildings, and raising the price on carbon to $170 per tonne by 2030.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
None of Canada’s past climate targets or plans has been credible. But the math on the latest plan, which relies on a steadily increasing carbon price, could have Canada meet its 2030 goal.
French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a video address during the 2020 Climate Ambition Summit.
EPA-EFE/Kenzo Tribouillard
Done right, offsetting projects can benefit local people and make a measurable difference to carbon emissions.
The Paris Agreement on climate change, signed on Dec. 12, 2015, by almost 200 states, was hailed as the turning point to keep global warming in check. Progress, however, has been insufficient.
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The Paris Agreement set countries on a path to limit global warming. Five years on, some progress has been made, but not enough. Decarbonizing the economy will take leadership and imagination.
Our new study shows that cutting emissions now will bring benefits sooner than expected.
Even if every country meets its commitments, the world will still be on track to warm by more than 3 degrees Celsius this century, a new UNEP report shows.
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
If Scott Morrison announces he’ll scrap the controversial Kyoto carryover credits tomorrow, our international counterparts will still regard Australia as a climate change laggard.
It’s high time the international shipping industry radically curbed its emissions. The industry must set a net-zero target and adopt a realistic plan to meet it.