© 2010 Flickr/Lawrence Murray cc by 2.0
Let’s discuss the alarming news first. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, we saw a 6% increase in carbon pollution between 2009 and 2010. That’s the largest annual increase ever on record. It exceeds even the worst-case scenario presented by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2007.
This trend confirms what has been clear to many of us for some time: Not enough of the world’s leaders are confronting the reality of climate change. As another upcoming report from the Intergovernmental Panel is expected to say, climate change is already likely increasing the risk of extreme weather events like heavy storms and droughts. And a new study by the International Energy Agency warns that we are almost out of time: Unless we quickly take action, the world is on track for a long-term temperature rise of 6 degrees Celsius.
Reversing this trend ⎯ and lowering global carbon pollution ⎯ is the greatest challenge of our time. Can we achieve it? Of course we can. That’s why I was so proud and encouraged this week when Australia’s leaders cast a historic vote to set a price on carbon. This new law will reduce the incentive to pollute the air, while ensuring the new carbon price does not harm consumers.
Australia’s government estimates that by 2020, the law will reduce the amount of carbon pollution equivalent to taking 45 million cars off the road. And in a nation where 80% of its electricity comes from coal, the law could lead to $100 billion of investment in clean energy, with enormous benefit to Australia’s economy as it joins the global transition to a low-carbon future.
It’s clear that we have a lot of work to do. But Australia’s historic vote is just the latest sign that it is not only possible to solve this crisis, but that meaningful action has already begun. Now, it’s time for all of us around the world to redouble our efforts to respond to our shared climate reality.
Lillian Susan Ruano
November 10th
Congratulations on the wise and courageous act if our Australian neighbors to stem climate change on their continent. I am so glad that there is at least one large nation who can be seen by the world as a role model for setting your sights on renewable energy!
Nicholas Laden Alden
November 11th
It would make sense that Australia is going to take action, what with all the dust storms and drought. A lot of that nasty pollution comes from china by the wind. Climate Change is going to be devastating for a place like Australia. It is one of the driest places on earth.
Jan
November 12th
Good on Australia. Perhaps this country can take some pointers. When all environmental organizations join together and get passage of a carbon tax in the US Congress, then there will be something to celebrate. And not some cap and trade scheme that allows polluting companies to continue to pollute the commons while taking ownership of forests on indigenous lands that deny them their lives and cultures. I’m talking about a truly revenue neutral carbon incentive that holds polluters accountable to move them into the direction of renewable energy investment and longterm growth, with the benefits of that growth being shared with consumers who will then have affordable access to it. But considering this Congress, I don’t expect that for at least another decade and we don’t have that kind of time.
The IEA just reported that we really only
have five years left before we will reach irreversible dangerous climate change. So Keystone XL pipeline or not, we have already come close to reaching the tipping point. Therefore, we also need to be holding this administration accountable for all of the other
bows it has made to big oil already and it’s complete failure to lead on this crisis. Saying the words climate change in a speech just does not cut it. BP, the very company that killed the Gulf (which no one speaks about anymore as people and marinelife continue to suffer the fallout) has been given the greenlight to drill there again (insanity).And Shell, which has toxified the Niger Delta will be allowed to now drill in one of the last pristine places on Earth-the Arctic. Where is the outrage about any of this? And while no one else mentions any of this,the latest excursion into Libya will also see BP and Shell now seeking contracts to burn their oil as well.And we paid for that.
So the reality of this is, unless we work for a paradigm shift in perception, we will not stop until the last drop of oil is drilled and
sucked out of this planet. And by then, it will be too late. The monetary/market and political structures that deceive the public enmasse regarding fossil fuels and price plus their indirect costs and externalities and the cost of the destruction and disease they cause as well as social and political upheaval must be toppled. And that then comes down to some very hard choices not based on party.
Which is why I support the OWS movement to hold them all accountable. But I foresee us only getting
really serious about this on an individual or any other level when we are truly looking back at ourselves in the abyss. For all of our protesting there is still one elusive factor in all of this: human nature and the
affect greed has on it. Figure out how to conquer that and this is a piece of cake.