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Federal Climate policy review (2017) submission by climate groups

May 8, 2017 at 11:57 am John Englart Leave a comment

DCAN Climate Review Fig 1

We chose not to do our own submission to the Federal Government Climate Policy Review, that closed on May 5, but instead made a few corrections to the Darebin Climate Action submission which focused on arguing we need climate emergency policies put in place. Climate Action Moreland was one of the 29 grassroot community climate and sustainability groups that endorsed the Darebin Climate Action submission (see list at end).

This submission covered the following:

• Overview
• The earth is already too hot and global warming is already dangerous.
• We can burn no more carbon for +1.5oC target.
• Worse news: The door to less than +2oC is rapidly closing.
• What action is needed?
• The Government must declare a climate emergency and enact an emergency speed transition.
• Showing the way.
• What is missing is leadership.

Overview

DCAN Climate Review Fig 2

This review aims to ensure the Government’s policies remain effective in achieving Australia’s 2030 target and Paris Agreement commitments.

We dispute the assumption in the terms of reference that the government’s policies have been effective in achieving Australia’s 2030 target, or our Paris commitments. There is a major discrepancy between the 26 to 28 per cent emissions cuts Australia has pledged, and our commitment under the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to well below +2oC and pursue efforts to keep warming under +1.5oC.

Tragically, the emission reductions commitments of Australia and other nations do not even come close to keeping global temperature rises below the agreed limits. In fact, even if every nation in the world complies with the Paris Agreement, the world will heat up by as much as +3.5oC by 2100.

Australia has a clear national interest in supporting the agreement, as acknowledged in the Australian National Interest Analysis 2 appended to the Paris Agreement document.

Yet our nation’s current intended commitment to reduce emissions by 26 to 28 percent below 2005 level by 2030 is a shamefully inadequate national effort, and reflects a failure to come to terms with the climate crisis and the urgency and scale of transformation needed now.

We strongly urge the government to set serious emissions reduction targets consistent with the alarming message from climate science. The time has passed for incremental small scale change spread over decades till the mid-­century or beyond.

We are out of time for using gas as a ‘transition’ fuel, or for new coal, oil or coal seam gas. We must stop all land clearing and deforestation, and restore and protect our natural ecosystems so that Australia becomes a carbon sink not a source of emissions. We must end fossil fuel subsidies, fossil fuel political funding, and scaremongering about renewable energy.

Australia’s energy system is outdated, polluting, poorly managed and inefficient. We have the technology and knowledge now to rapidly repower the country with clean renewable energy, reboot our failing electricity system and remove the roadblocks holding back the renewables boom.

A whole suite of transformative measures is required to be integrated across all states and territories, and all sectors of the economy in recognition of what climate scientists are telling us.

We must recognise we are in a climate emergency and face up to this. We need strong leadership at the political level that takes up this challenge to lead our nation through an emergency 10-­year transition to a zero emissions economy, accompanied by measures to draw down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Practical plans detailing the necessary changes in all sectors of our economy are available. We need strong leadership to implement these changes at emergency speed. In this way, Australia could play its part in a ‘meaningful’ effort in what is in our ‘national interest to support global action’.

“Even if all of the world’s nations meet the pledges they made in the Paris accord, carbon dioxide is currently on a path to hit 500 or 600 parts per million (ppm) by century’s end—a path if not to hell, then to someplace with a similar setting on the thermostat,” Bill McKibben.

Read the full submission (PDF)

DCAN Climate Review Fig 3

This submission from Darebin Climate Action Now is endorsed by the following community climate groups:

Yarra Valley Climate Action Group
Centre for Climate Safety
Frack Free Geelong
Climate Action Monaro
Coffs Coast Climate Action Group
Baby Boomers for Climate Change Action
Western Region Environment Centre
Yarra Climate Action Now
Locals Into Victoria’s Environment (LIVE)
Warrandyte Climate Action Now
Wodonga Albury Towards Climate Health (WATCH)
Journeys for Climate Justice
Eurobodalla 350.org
Climate Action Canberra
Dandenong Ranges Renewable Energy Association Inc
Citizens Own Renewable Energy Network Australia (CORENA)
Transition Towns Maroondah
Stonnington Climate Action Network
Geelong Sustainability
Psychology for a Safe Climate
Lighter Footprints
Climate Action Hobart
Ararat Greenhouse Action Group Inc.
Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group
The Sustainable Engineering Society
Wide Bay Burnett Environment Council Inc
Climate Action Moreland
Bayside Climate Change Action Group
St John’s Wood Sustainability

Entry filed under: climate change info, Climate Emergency, news, Policy. Tags: climate change policies, DCAN, submission.