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From rhetoric to action 鈥� academies release joint statement on COP26

The presidents of Australia鈥檚 five learned academies have issued a joint statement on COP26 and Australia's path to net-zero emissions.

The statement promises the academies鈥� independent voice and convening power, which harnesses the collective expertise and resources of nearly 3,500 Fellows across the academies, to provide insights, solutions and knowledge.

[The presidents] recognise that our Academies鈥� collective expertise and leadership is critical to addressing the widespread and intergenerational impacts of climate change.

From the statement

鈥淸The presidents] recognise that our Academies鈥� collective expertise and leadership is critical to addressing the widespread and intergenerational impacts of climate change. At COP26 in Glasgow, world leaders convened with a singular goal 鈥� to drive deep and rapid decarbonisation to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. There is no realistic path to decarbonisation without ending fossil fuel use. In response, every sector in Australia must deliver on our commitments to reach the global goals stated in the 2015 Paris Agreement.

鈥淭he challenges presented by climate change require smart, holistic and cross-disciplinary thinking. We need to continue developing and communicating research to challenge misinformation with robust evidence and steward an economy-wide transition to a low carbon future. Our academies will work to ensure our experts are at the forefront, providing advice to guide the most efficient, fair and cost-effective policy mechanisms that drive reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and broader adaptation.

鈥淪trategies will aim to exceed our emission reduction targets while effectively managing social, economic, health and environmental factors and empowering governments and industry to take action. We are also committed to substantially reducing the emissions of our own academy activities.鈥�

Work underway

Learned academies and ACOLA are already undertaking valuable work towards net-zero, including:

• identification of research priorities
• a major report on the risks to Australia of 3 Degrees of global warming, and a climate change hub to highlight
• a clear position on the need for greater action this decade using current renewable technologies, to demystify net zero technology and Australia鈥檚 commitments to achieving emissions reduction
• a symposium to showcase whose work will help manage the social and cultural dimensions of the climate crisis
• a discussion paper and statement on to meet our national emission reduction commitments most cost-effectively
• a forthcoming report exploring and the role of the health and medical research sector
• leading a process to consolidate and extend with a Future Earth Just Adaptation Strategy for release in early 2022

The statement is signed by the presidents of Australia鈥檚 learned academies:

• Professor John Shine AC PresAA 鈥� ACOLA Board Chair and President,
• Professor Hugh Bradlow FTSE 鈥� President,     
• Professor Jane Hall FASSA 鈥� President, 
• Professor Lesley Head FASSA FAHA 鈥� President,
• Professor Ingrid Scheffer AO FAA PresAHMS FRS 鈥� President,