https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/09/tipping-points-could-exacerbate-climate-crisis-scientists-fear
So, the new IPCC report has been issued, with pretty clear warnings about our future. Amongst much else, it says this:
The report finds that limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require "rapid and far-reaching" transitions in land, energy, industry, buildings, transport, and cities. Global net human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) would need to fall by about 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030, reaching 'net zero' around 2050. This means that any remaining emissions would need to be balanced by removing CO2 from the air. "Limiting warming to 1.5°C is possible within the laws of chemistry and physics but doing so would require unprecedented changes," said Jim Skea, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group III.
We know that the IPCC is no radical group. Its an intergovernmental panel, subject to all the compromises needed to reach a consensus opinion. It is not being dismissive of their findings to say that the actual situation, and likely outcome, could be far worse than reported here.
And yet we also know this: the Australian government intends to continue mining and using its coal: the government would not change policy “just because somebody might suggest that some sort of report is the way we need to follow and everything that we should do”
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/09/australian-government-backs-coal-defiance-ipcc-climate-warning
And today the Irish Government has announced its 2019 budget, having dropped mooted increases in its carbon tax, and failing to make any realistic plan to meet our Paris Agreement obligations.
The above infographic is from the guardian.
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