Thread by @soopajane

#ICYMI In a "#NetZero is NOT #zero" update (thanks to @ltgrusselhonore for the tip): Australia.

This story is from May, but boy it's a doozy. 🧵
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Australia's Prime Minister said in April that the country reduced its emissions by 19% from 2005 to 2019.

...but did they? 🧐

(Audience, do I even have to say "spoiler alert"?)

"Turns out, it was a neat accounting trick."

Because that's what "#NetZero" means: neat accounting tricks. 🧮

Australia's emissions from fossil fuels and industry actually went UP:
📈 6% from 2005 to 2019

😬😬😬
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

This is not the only story we're going to see like this: Emissions "going down" only if you count unrelated land use (i.e. planting - or just not cutting down - trees).

This hides the truth that countries + companies have to confront:
✂️ We have to cut ACTUAL emissions ✂️

We have to focus on:
📉 rapid electrification
📉 transitioning to renewable energy (especially solar + wind
📉 manufacturing less stuff
📉 building fewer polluting industries

Those last two are HARD, but we also can't wait until 2049 to do the 1st two. It'll take a long time!

Another little gem buried in this story, and another reason NET zero is NOT really zero: double counting.

In a time where countries + companies both are desperate for the "credit" of reducing emissions, everybody wants to claim the win.

But that's a problem: 👀

In sum:
0⃣ Only zero is zero
📉 Only reduction is reduction
✂️ We can't 'fancy budget' our way out of actually reducing emissions

We have to actually #reduce.

The good news: Communities are ready for this. We're smart + hard-working + desperate for change.

So let's do this. 😎