Transcript Document
Vanessa Morris Executive Officer, SEE-Change ACT “ This is an emergency, and for emergency situations we need emergency action” Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary General This emergency will not be solved by traditional political compromise or incremental change to business-asusual. Climate change is the world’s slow motion Pearl Harbour. We must work together now as we have in the past in wartime. The problem is political, not economic or technical. The denialists and the special interest lobbies are currently in control of the global response The Australian community is concerned but confused. Our federal politicians are responding to the lobbyists and the confused public, not the scientific imperatives. Current global greenhouse gas concentration is: 387 ppm CO2 rising 2ppm annually 455 ppm CO2e - including other gases Current political negotiating range based on: atmospheric carbon stabilisation at: 450 – 550ppm CO2e Risk assessment: Based on earlier IPCC modeling 450 ppm is presented as equating to 50% probability of a 2 degrees C global mean temperature warming above pre-industrial Would you fly in an aircraft with a 50% chance of reaching it’s destination? Current global negotiations are based on outdated science Latest science suggests 2 degrees C temperature rise will be catastrophic Non-linear effects are already occurring at 0.8 degrees C rise tipping points may be already committed we are probably well into the danger zone already The new objective, for a safe climate restore Arctic summer sea ice stabilisation target - around 300ppm CO2 This requires developed world emission reductions of: 45-50% by 2020 95-100% by 2050 The solutions are available, given the will We cannot wait for clean coal technology or nuclear. This transition must be very rapid and as equitable as possible. Canberra capable of enormous reduction in energy use and significant transfer to solar. The feed-in tariff mechanism and subsidies can be grasped immediately. Opportunity for Canberrans to be involved in the transition individually and in cooperation . Energy efficiency target of at least 30% in the next three years, is totally feasible We should grasp the solar option. It is available NOW Homes, schools, religious and public buildings. The price of electricity will rise as it must. Economic equity can be managed in many ways. The greatest imperative is to commence the transition. Ambitous targets by time of Canberra’s centenary 2013 Religious building rooves to become symbols to the community Groups using their collective capacity to bulk buy, install and feed-in to the grid at competitive cost. Involving their congregations in discussions of solar options. Dealing together with the Heritage Question Sponsored by The Australian Youth Climate Coalition and World Vision. Open to young people aged 12-29 A choice of 3 world scenarios 550, 450 and <<450 Voting their preference online this week Engaging in the science and a consideration of their future SEE-Change letter to every school and college principal in the ACT Climate change will disproportionately affect the poor. The rich have greater capacity to act now on solar, and the incentives are right for them. Solar panels vs luxury cars We need to involve everyone young and old in a consideration of the consequences of further delay. Mass action on solar by Canberra citizens will focus political will and help move us towards carbon neutrality.