The Science Policy and Diplomacy Newsletter of the 精东视频 highlights important science policy discussion and events in Australia and around the globe. We report on the involvement of science in national and international policy and diplomacy, and the Academy鈥檚 contributions to these discussions.
This special climate change edition of the Science Policy and Diplomacy Newsletter highlights the role of science in Australia鈥檚 national response to climate change, particularly the Academy鈥檚 report, 鈥楾he risks to Australia of a 3掳C warmer world鈥�, and the international response to climate change.
The Australian Academy of science released a landmark report, The risks to Australia of a 3掳C warmer world, on 31 March 2021. The report calls on the Australian Government to accelerate Australia鈥檚 transition to net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the next 10 to 20 years to play our part in avoiding the worst impacts of climate change.
The report, which explores the risks to Australia鈥檚 future based on the current global trajectory of greenhouse gas emissions, states that the world reaching net zero emissions by 2050 is an absolute minimum if Australia is to avoid potentially insurmountable challenges to its cities, ecosystems, industries and food and health systems.
The report says Australia is well positioned to play its part in meeting this challenge, with a skilled workforce, strong industrial base and plentiful renewable energy resources facilitating easier emission reductions compared to many other countries.
It highlights that even if the world鈥檚 governments meet their current Paris pledges on time, Earth is likely to reach average global surface temperatures of 3掳C above the pre-industrial period during this century, with catastrophic consequences.
Figure 1. Projected warming by 2100 under various scenarios
Further pledges to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 are required for the world to stay well below 2掳C of warming, the goal agreed to under the Paris Agreement.
To achieve net zero, the report says Australia will need to rapidly remove greenhouse gas emissions from a range of sectors including electricity generation and distribution; electrify the transport sector, industry and buildings; increase energy efficiency across the board; and reduce non-energy related GHG emissions from all sectors including industrial processes and agriculture.
Discussion of the report鈥檚 findings and implications are included in articles from (written by two of the report鈥檚 authors), , and . These articles discuss the most serious findings of the report, but most importantly share the call from scientists for the Australian Government to take steps to avoid a 3掳C warmer world.
精东视频 President, Professor John Shine, said of the report that 鈥淎ustralia is well positioned to meet the climate change challenge by combining our scientific knowledge with economic opportunities associated with moves to net zero greenhouse gas emissions.鈥�
Australia is well positioned to meet the climate change challenge by combining our scientific knowledge with economic opportunities associated with moves to net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
A primary focus of the report is the impact of the increase in global temperatures on Australia. Within the 10 recommendations of the report, the Academy calls on the Australian Government to accelerate Australia鈥檚 transition to net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the next 10 to 20 years to play our part in avoiding the worst impacts of climate change. Below are resources outlining Australia鈥檚 current approaches to climate change and articles sharing the impact of increasing temperatures in Australia.
More than 120 traditional owners and scientists from CSIRO have met at the . The Gathering empowers and enhances the First People鈥檚-led response to climate change. Discussions aim to provide communities with the tools to respond to climate change-induced events like marine heatwaves, rising sea levels, bushfires and heatwaves, all of which have significant impacts on First Peoples on Country, particularly in remote and isolated communities.
An article in The Australian, , discusses the changing narrative of the Australian Government鈥檚 actions and perspectives on climate change. The government is undertaking a response backed by a rhetoric of 鈥榪uiet determination鈥�, a different approach to past governments led by Malcolm Turnbull and Kevin Rudd. This article offers insight into the changing posture of the Australian Government to climate action.
A published by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) warns that the changing climate will expose Australia鈥檚 neighbours in the Southeast Asian region to climate hazards that could have real impacts on Australia protecting and projecting its national interests in the region. details the climate vulnerabilities of Australia鈥檚 neigbours and discusses the necessity of the Australian Government to begin thinking about political, economic and security tipping points generated by climate change before the worst effects of climate change are felt in the region. An overview and discussion of the report鈥檚 findings can be found in an article from .
Climate change is a global issue, impacting all countries. The risks to Australia of a 3掳C warmer world report also calls for the international community to take policy actions for a positive future and to stay well below 2掳C and avoid 3掳C. Below are resources outlining international responses to climate change.
A co-author of the Academy's report, Distinguised Professor Lesley Hughes, said 鈥淚t鈥檚 not too late to avoid 3掳C. We should still be aiming for a stable global temperature below 2掳C but to get to that point, we must reduce emissions very rapidly鈥攊n particular accelerating the energy transition in the next decade. This must be one of the most urgent national and international priorities.鈥�
It鈥檚 not too late to avoid 3掳C. We should still be aiming for a stable global temperature below 2掳C but to get to that point, we must reduce emissions very rapidly鈥攊n particular accelerating the energy transition in the next decade. This must be one of the most urgent national and international priorities.
UN Secretary-General , Ant贸nio Guterres, to reduce global warming in line with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. He shared this warning at meeting held in February as part of preparations for the next annual UN climate conference, known as COP26, which will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, in November. COP26 offers countries an opportunity to work together to meet their commitments to the and come together as a global community to tackle climate change, as 2021 continues to be labelled the . Find out more about COP26 and why it matters in this .
An discusses the necessity for researchers to create new models, better metrics and more investment, as cascades of extreme events could derail the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. As climate change is provoking ever-more-extreme events, from storms and droughts to floods and cyclones, these risks have far-reaching cascading impacts. Using examples of disasters and their impacts on various countries, the article analyses the potential for researchers to create new models for policymakers that will influence them to invest in precautionary measures and adaptation.
A has found that many net zero commitments, while a sign of good intention, lack the high levels of ambition required to keep global warming below 1.5掳C , as defined in the 2015 . 鈥楾aking Stock: A global assessment of net zero targets鈥� assessed the net zero commitments of significant entities, countries, large cities and large companies, to find that while of meeting the necessary reduction in greenhouse gases to meet the Paris Agreement.
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