Animal Justice Party, The Australian Progressives and Fusion Party have acknowledged and committed to radical action required to avoid runaway global heating and further devastation. The required action includes zero emission across all sectors, sequestering excess carbon dioxide, plus immediate research and development into reflecting sunlight to actively cool the planet. The history of climate action in Australia is marked by weak targets and accounting tricks and ongoing approval of new fossil fuel projects. The major parties’ positions on climate change will lead to an unlivable earth. We hear endless talk of climate action and mitigation but within Australia, no MP or environmental-NGO advocates for a global vision and commensurate strategy to stop let alone reverse global heating. The Climate Rescue Accord has stepped into this leadership void. The Accord aims to bring other minor parties and independents on board, with several new parties set to sign on. The Accord is also reaching out to international stakeholders hoping to start a worldwide movement. While the Accord’s vision is to stop and reverse warming globally, the commensurate strategy is the 3Rs: Reduce (emissions to zero at emergency speed), Remove excess greenhouse gases, and Reflect sunlight to actively cool the planet until Reduce and Remove can achieve a safe climate on their own. To the 3rd R, Reflect, the Accord calls for urgent research and development to determine safe methods for making the earth more reflective. “The world has left it too long for net zero targets alone to avert the threat of runaway warming.” Explained Dr Adam Cardilini from the Accord’s Working Group. “At around 1.5C of warming we enter a world where runaway climate change becomes more and more likely. This would create a world that is unlivable for most people, animals, and ecosystems.” The idea of active cooling by reflecting sunlight is not new. There are calls for moratoriums of real world research into methods, such as use of aerosols, to increase Earth’s reflectivity. “There are many ways we can create an active cooling that don’t include the classic geoengineering options, such as use of aerosols in the stratosphere. Other options could include lightning roofs and roads or mirrors on the earth’s surface.” said Dr Cardalini. “However we don’t really know because the required research isn’t happening.” “We need to understand that we are already geoengineering between a half and one and a half degrees of cooling from aerosols created by burning fossil fuel. As we go to zero emissions, we need to offset this loss of cooling,” explained Bryony Edwards from the Working Group. The participating parties of the Accord have and are adopting policy that comprehensively reflects all 3Rs, including near-zero targets across all sectors, using the work of many groups that have been developing such plans, including Australia’s Beyond Zero Emissions. Mik Aidt, from the Accord Working Group, emphasised that active cooling by reflecting sunlight cannot happen without the other two Rs: Reduce and Remove. “The 3Rs are a complete package but active cooling alone is just a temporary bandaid. Ocean acidification, pollution, and greenhouse gas imbalances still need to be addressed via Reduce and Remove.” The Climate Rescue Accord began as climate policy conversation between executives and members from federally registered political parties. The Accord working group committed to the vision of stopping and reversing warming, bringing others on board including international stakeholders. Vote Climate One, a Climate Rescue Accord partner, has endorsed the 3Rs and will assess any candidates with regard to their embrace of the 3Rs through its traffic light voting guide. Rob Bakes from Vote Climate One said that, “The major parties have proven to be worse than useless on climate action. Minority government is the only way Australia can reorient itself to a future where we might just have a chance at survival.” “Unless there are parties that are willing to work together, as with the Climate Rescue Accord, we won’t get the change we need,” said Antoinette Pitt, representing the Australian Progressives. “On top of that we need the public to understand how preferential voting works - how to use their preferences.” Contact the Climate Rescue Accord working group: [email protected]
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
June 2024
Categories |