"The latest summary of climate science from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change shows that the range of scientific uncertainty has narrowed considerably – but so has the pathway to success for Australia and the world," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of national employer association Ai Group, said today.
"The response of the climate to a given increase in greenhouse gases has become more certain: the lower end estimates for temperature increase have risen, and the high end estimates have fallen. The attribution of dangerous extreme events to climate change has solidified. The greatest remaining uncertainty is how fast the world will reduce emissions, and therefore how much more climate change we collectively decide to accept. Only the swiftest action will keep the temperature rise below the 1.5C goal of the Paris Agreement, and every fraction of a degree above that carries more severe consequences.
"The next two volumes of the IPCC report, expected in early 2022, will shed more light on the understanding of the economic and social impacts of climate change and our options to mitigate it. But it is already clear that arresting climate change requires global emissions to fall to net zero; and that the longer this transition takes, the higher the point where temperatures will settle.
"Australia’s national interest lies in a successful global response to contain climate change through net zero emissions by 2050, and a successful transition for our own economy to deliver broad prosperity in a net zero world. Enhanced Australian goals will help – not only net zero by 2050, but for steady reductions in our emissions along the way to net zero. Our advanced economy peers are deepening their commitments and rolling out policies to meet them. In the process they are acting both to preserve industry competitiveness today, and build new advantages for the future. Australia can and should do likewise,” Mr Willox said.
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