Power Station, Victoria. Credit: Damian Baker.
By Rich Bowden:
Australian researchers have said it is still possible to contain climate change to within 2 degrees C however base this assumption on an effective global agreement being implemented within 12 months.
Scientists Professor Peter Sheehan and Professor Roger Jones at the Melbourne-based Victoria University’s Centre for Strategic Economic Studies, have said it is possible to see global average temperatures peaking by 2060 and declining by the century’s end.
In the first of a series of briefings on climate policy held at VU’s City Flinders campus, Professor Jones said a quick response to reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere was necessary to achieve this goal.
“New science is suggesting that dangerous climate change may not even be avoided by staying within the limit of 2°C, so it is important that greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are allowed to peak and decline as soon as possible,” Professor Jones said.
“This can be achieved by advanced economies reducing their emissions by 80 per cent between now and 2050, with the developing countries coming on board between 2015 and 2030,” he said.
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Prof Jones warned that the time frame for action was rapidly reducing.
“However, the window is closing rapidly, and a concerted international effort must begin this year so that the rising trend in global emissions can be reversed by 2015,” Professor Jones said.
“Achieving this result will mean the virtual elimination of all greenhouse gas emissions from developed countries within 50 years and from developing countries in a slightly longer time frame.”
‘New Industrial Revolution’
However he added that those nations which were successful in reducing carbon emissions would be rewarded with earlier and greater returns.
“This will generate a new industrial revolution with huge investment in new technologies, industries and communities. This unprecedented scale of investment will fuel new forms of global growth, with the greatest returns going to those countries that lead rather than resist change.”
Summing up the message from the team’s modelling Prof Sheehan said: “The science dictates we act now; the economics indicates there are significant opportunities for those who do.”
Further information on the Climate Forum’s briefings is available here.
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Thanks for the comment Val.
Totally agree that we could be world leaders in renewables technology. I recall David Suzuki saying when he was last in Australia that he couldn’t understand why all Australian roofs weren’t fitted with solar panels.
It’s a shame that politicians continue to pollute the debate instead of taking real action like Europe and like the US is starting to do in a number of states and nationally. We can be leaders in renewable energy technologies if not for the short-sightedness of our so-called political leaders.
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