We may not have won as many gold medals at the Olympics as we hoped, but we’ve been a world leader for many years as one of the top three polluters of carbon emissions, when measured per capita. This figure is obtained by dividing Australia’s total emissions (580 million tonnes per year) by our population (22.7 million) to get 25.5 tonnes per person, per year. The USA is at about 22 tonnes, UK at 10, China 7 and India 3.
We are a leading contributor to global warming because about a third of these emissions goes into the atmosphere and thickens the global greenhouse layer. (A third is absorbed on land by trees and soil, and the other third is taken up by the oceans, which are becoming more acidic as a result, with consequences for all marine life). Currently, nations of the world emit 30 billion tonnes a year of greenhouse gases, mainly from burning fossil fuels like coal and oil.
This gigantic pollution is making the greenhouse layer denser, trapping more heat from the sun, and warming our home, the planet. Since 1900, average temperatures have increased by 0.8°C and all the scientific modelling predicts more emissions will drive temperatures higher, beyond the 2°C safe limit that nations have agreed (in theory, though not in practice). Unless we take effective action, we will exceed this limit by mid-century, making life impossible in many regions for humans and many other species.
Already there are signs of climate change in action. There are more extreme weather events and they are not just ‘natural’ occurrences – now they are super-charged by a warmer atmosphere and warmer oceans.
The federal government’s Clean Energy Future package goes to the core of the problem by reducing Australia’s carbon emissions (by 160 million tonnes each year), and encouraging clean renewable energy (20 per cent by 2020), at little cost. Many other countries are doing the same or more, to tackle their carbon emissions. There is no alternative if we are to continue living the good life on our planet, and winning real gold medals we can be proud of.
Harry Creamer
Climate Change Australia
