Thread by @David_Ritter

Hey @ScottMorrisonMP, I’ve read and reread the transcript of your presser yesterday responding to the #IPCCReport, and there’s a bunch of stuff you’re wrong about. Time to bust the Morrison Myths about climate change. Here’s a thread.

Australia is making an oversized contribution to the global climate crisis in a few ways. First, when land use change is excluded, our emissions per capita are higher than any other nation, so what we do matters.

Second, coal, oil and gas are the top drivers of emissions - and when exports and what is burned at home are combined, Australis is fifth worst in the world for responsibility for carbon dioxide from extractive fossil industries: theguardian.com/environment/20…

Third, Australia is the biggest exporter of coal and gas in the world - and the third worst exporter of all fossil fuels: abc.net.au/news/science/2…

Okay. Let’s get on to timing. You have set no timetable, but the IEA has clearly stated all advanced economies have a key responsibility to stop burning coal by 2030, and cease any new coal, oil and gas projects this year. iea.org/reports/net-ze…

Honestly, what kind of a leader can’t even set a target? To do our bit Australia needs to cut emissions by 75% this decade and commit to net zero by 2035. This is entirely achievable. Here’s a roadmap that @ClimateWorksAus prepared earlier: climateworksaustralia.org/news/stimulati…

Now, on to technology. What we need is already there, ready and waiting. Renewables and batteries are now cheap, proven and reliable. The problem is that you are not investing in it and you are failing to provide regulatory certainty.

Acting on climate change saves us money! It is cheaper to act on climate change. An economist called Nicholas Stern demonstrated this in 2006 and about three gazillion other studies have shown the same thing: apo.org.au/node/4420

Being really specific, renewable energy from wind and solar is the cheapest power available, while coal and gas continue to rise in price. bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

And let's not forget, Australia’s energy market operator has confirmed that “renewable generation, complemented by firming capacity, remains the least-cost option to replace ageing coal-fired generation”. theguardian.com/australia-news…

Team Australia is also sick of the humbug and do-nothing from you. A massive majority of us want real climate action now. And hint, your empty slogans fool nobody. australiainstitute.org.au/wp-content/upl…

Okay, on to the accounting tricks. Australia talks a load of bull about our emissions reductions from burning fossil fuels. If you take out land clearing from farming, Australia’s emissions have grown 7% since 2005: australiainstitute.org.au/wp-content/upl…

According to your government’s own modelling, even with the tricks, we are not on track to achieve our insufficient 2030 target. theguardian.com/environment/20…

Now, because of your appalling effort - and those of your predecessors - we are a global embarrassment. Recently, Our efforts on climate action were ranked dead last amongst over 170 UN member nations. washingtonpost.com/world/2021/07/…

It is true that lots of countries need to act to tackle climate change - which makes it even less excusable that you spend your time, complaining, whining, obfuscating, doing nothing and blaming others. Great way to inspire cooperation.

Your behaviour has got so inexcusably bad, that an unofficial international alliance of senior diplomats felt it needed to intervene. It really is embarrassing.
theguardian.com/australia-news…

We know what is causing the climate crisis - largely the mining and burning of coal, oil and gas. This means we know what we need to do to fix it. We just need to get on with it. Enough of your crap excuses. Do your job.