Green groups say Australia can’t afford to lose another decade to climate policy paralysis following the overnight release of the latest United Nations research on global warming.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has found Australia and other developed countries must achieve net zero emissions years earlier than promised.
The comprehensive summary of climate science presentations over several years says there is still an outside chance of warding off the worst effects of climate change, but more needs to be done faster.
The federal government’s response to the crisis currently revolves around its safeguard mechanism legislation before parliament, which targets the nation’s 215 biggest emitters and aims to reduce emissions by 205 million tonnes by 2030.
However, the Australian Conservation Foundation says the cost of Australia’s inaction continues to be felt through devastating floods, coastal erosion, longer droughts and increasingly ferocious bushfires.
“This report sends a clear and urgent message to the Australian parliament – strengthen and pass the safeguard mechanism, then find a way to stop funding and approving new coal and gas projects in this term,” it said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The Albanese government should accept reasonable amendments proposed to strengthen the safeguard mechanism, so it becomes an effective tool for cutting emissions.”
The World Wide Fund for Nature’s Dr Stephanie Rowe said with current emissions still at their highest level in human history, the window to limit warming to 1.5C was rapidly closing.
“The sooner and more decisively we act, the sooner people and nature can reap the benefits of a cleaner, safer and more stable future,” she said.
“We have all the tools we need, so it’s well within our power to meet this challenge if we act now.”
Greenpeace described the report as “a sobering warning about the state and trajectory of climate change”.
