WE MUST PROTECT OUR FUTURE AND OPPOSE LNPS ECOCIDAL CARBON POLICIES I am extremely distressed by Liberal Party policies that have resulted in a sharp rise of emissions, that are likely to produce at least 2.5% pa possibly 4% increase from electricity generation alone with probably even more to come from any rollout of Liberal plans for more roads, more fracking and more coal mines. Climate change, and our response to it, should be an important part of the G20 agenda, and Australia is shirking its responsibilities to the future for what seems to the electorate to be a short term payback for LNP political donors and the fossil fuel industry. Right now electricity emissions are sky rocketing post carbon tax repeal, with a 14Mt CO2e rise likely (near 3% given Australias annual emissions of 540Mt) (1) The Reputex, SKM and then Climate Institute reports on Liberals ERF, (which turns out to be a toothless pay-the-polluter cash fest (2)), give outcomes varying from 2% to 4% annual rise in Australian emissions post the Carbon Tax repeal. (3) The short point is that the ERF is unlikely to drop emissions as it is cheaper for polluters to do nothing.. Now Tony Abbott has sliced (4) into the RET large project sector annual emissions would be likely to move closer to the SKM report’s unabated baseline scenario of a 4% rise. (5) Various phone calls to Parliamentary offices and the Climate Institute about the extent of this emissions increase all confirm at least 2% annual rise and probably worse. The highest response is one from one of the Climate Institutes report on ERFs authors who suggested that it could go as high as a 30Mt extra annually, presumably from more of the full suite of LNPs policies. This figure is very alarming as it would correspond to a 6% annual increase. The Liberals would have Australia embrace the PM for Roads initiative and more Coal is good for humanity rollouts in Galilee Basin (at full capacity embedding another 2% of global annual emissions (6) to add to our existing 3.3% of the global total (7)). The LNPs dream of Australia Open for Business would not only see increased emissions from the industry and transport sector, but also corresponding very large increases in fugitive emissions (now quite a significant fraction of our annual total) to add to the aforementioned 14Mt from energy generation. The world is meeting for COP20 Lima, coming up this month and it is so important to hold our retrograde LNP Government (8) accountable. Our sunny spacious country, rich in renewables capacity, should be planning for future climate resilience and energy independence. Instead of behaving like a rouge state (9), with the highest per capita emissions (23.83 t compared to the US approx 20.65 t per capita) of the Annex 1 (developed) nations (10) we should be pulling our weight, particularly given our status as a wealthy coal exporting nation, and reducing our emissions as recommended by at least 40% by 2025 or more. (11) 1) theguardian/environment/2014/nov/04/carbon-tax-demise-leading-to-large-rise-in-emissions-says-academic 2) https://facebook/video.php?v=10152324188045916 (Christine Milne, Greens Leader on ERF) Reputex might get 1-2%, SKM nothing of [a Kyoto] 5%.... “Clive abolished a working ETS where his companies had to pay millions.. and now he has an investigation….” there will be no penalties Abbott to Milne... 3) climateinstitute.org.au/articles/publications/coalition-climate-policy-and-the-national-climate-interest.html/section/478 4) climateinstitute.org.au/verve/_resources/TCI_WWF_ACF_Policybrief_WhoReallyBenefitsFromReducingTheRET_file.pdf 5) climateinstitute.org.au/verve/_resources/SKM_ReviewofSubsidyandCarbonPriceApproaches_August2013.pdf 6) greenpeace.org/australia/Global/australia/images/2012/Climate/Galillee_Report.pdf 7) theconversation/why-australia-must-stop-exporting-coal-9698 8) climateinstitute.org.au/articles/publications/australias-post-2020-emissions-challenge.html/section/478 9) slate/articles/technology/future_tense/2014/09/australia_s_environmental_movement_has_been_overthrown.html 10) environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/7d5f76fe-3128-44dd-bef1-f6fa008f686f/files/nggi-quarterly-update-mar-2014.pdf abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/Web+Pages/Population+Clock?opendocument epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/usinventoryreport.html 6526 Mt (2012) divided by 316.1M equals approx 20.65 t 11) climateinstitute.org.au/articles/media-releases/government-must-recognise-realities-requiring-post-2020-emission-targets.html
Posted on: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 10:11:18 +0000
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