Thread by @ThierryAaron

I was recently invited to debate with a representative of @bp_plc about what the net-zero target means for UK energy policy.

Here's a🧵based on my slides about why the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy's letter is scientifically illiterate 1/n

First things first. I was asked to participate in this debate, as I'd been arrested taking part in this protest with @ScientistsX at @beisgovuk. Our demand was simple & science led, that the UK end all NEW oil and gas exploration.

Read more here: 2/n
theguardian.com/environment/20…

As @antonioguterres, the @UN Secretary General, made plain at the launch of the @IPCC_CH WG1 report we are now at #CodeRed for humanity.

This is (as the UK parliament declared) a #ClimateEmergency 3/n

The @IPCC_CH reports tell us we have a 'rapidly closing window to secure a livable and sustainable future for all!' 4/n

Government's have known about this worsening crisis for over 30yrs BUT concentrations of GHGs in our atmosphere keep rising - as do emissions!

Governments have repeatedly failed to act on the scientific warnings 5/n

H/T @MuellerTadzio @wiebkemarie @MariusHasenheit @sustentioEU

@MuellerTadzio @wiebkemarie @MariusHasenheit @sustentioEU After years of continued delay we have squandered our carbon budgets. This rewrites the chronology of climate change from long-term gradual reduction to urgent & radical emissions cuts!

6/n H/T @robbie_andrew

So, demanding has it become to still meet our internationally agreed climate targets that most models now assume huge amounts of carbon dioxide removal as well as rapid reductions in fossil fuel use will have to occur.

7/n H/T @Peters_Glen

But most experts in this topic, such as @KevinClimate & @Peters_Glen, warn that this is a risky gamble as it is very possible that these negative emissions technologies will NOT work at scale.

You can read more here:
science.org/doi/10.1126/sc… 7/n

Whichever way you look at it then it is "Now or never" if we are to meet the 1.5C climate target.

As Prof. Jim Skea, Co-Chair of @IPCC_CH WG3 explains we need "deep emissions reductions across all sectors". Starting NOW!

theguardian.com/environment/20… 8/n

What's this mean for the fossil fuel industry? Even, when allowing for billions of tonnes of CDR, we need to leave most of our reserves in the ground!

A team from @UCL showed that to reach the 1.5C carbon budget 60% of gas & oil must not be burnt!

nature.com/articles/s4158… 9/n

This is not at all scientifically controversial.

In a report commissioned by @AlokSharma_RDG ahead of #COP26 - @fbirol, Executive Director of the @IEA, said there "can be no new investment in oil, gas and coal"!

theguardian.com/environment/20… 10/n

@AlokSharma_RDG @fbirol @IEA The @UNEP Production Gap report (also published ahead of #COP26), tell us the exact same thing.

You can find that report here:
productiongap.org/2021report/

11/n

"World governments plan to produce more than twice the amount of fossil fuels in 2030 than would be consistent with limiting warming to 1.5C"

12/n

The conclusion is clear. It is governments (formed of politicians like @KwasiKwarteng) approving new fossil fuel developments who are the "dangerous radicals".

"Investing in new fossil fuels infrastructure is moral and economic madness" !!! 13/n

None of the major oil companies examined by @PriceofOil come anywhere close to aligning their business plans with our climate targets.

They are not to be trusted. 14/n

@PriceofOil In fact new research by @Global_Witness & @RystadEnergy found that the 20 largest oil and gas companies look set to invest almost $1,000,000,000,000 (a trillion 💲!) in developing NEW oil and gas over the next decade! 🤯

Ecocidal, but still legal!!!

globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/f… 15/n

Investments like this new project by @bp_plc in the Murlach field, North Sea, which has the backing of
@GOVUK😭 16/n

If you're interested, these are the banks financing such projects in case you want to #MoveYourMoney

Remember: It's not an investment if it is destroying the planet! 17/n

Oil and gas companies (and apparently government ministers also) are resorting to endless #Greenwash to try and carry on with business-as-usual in the face of huge public demand for #ClimateAction.

This paper in @PLOSONE unpacks how this works.

journals.plos.org/plosone/articl… 18/n

The #Greenwash comprises of a whole arsenal of weaponised discourses used to try to delay #ClimateAction that we need to look out for. You'll see it in the media everywhere!

Helpfully @lamb_wf et al mapped these for us in this paper...
cambridge.org/core/journals/… 19/n

When you're ready to move on from despair at the naked power & corruption, remember (as former IPCC co-chair Prof. Robert Watson, reminds us "we have the technologies we need to transition from fossil fuels today" - we just need governments to act!

20/n
theconversation.com/climate-scient…

But as the great environmental activist @billmckibben reminds us creating political will requires building political movements.

This is not about data and science this is about power!

And we need powerful movements - which means we need YOU to step up! 21/n

So find a group you want to join whether @Fridays4future, @350 @ExtinctionR @sunrisemvmt @ende_gelande or any of the hundreds of other climate action groups & sign up your friends and family.

We're going to have to fight for the rest of our lives just to have a future!

/end