Thread by @David_Ritter

Overnight, #IPCCReport WG3, the 3rd volume in the blockbuster trilogy of global climate reports was released.
This one focuses on solutions and has some clear messages for Australian politicians.
Spoiler alert: @ScottMorrisonMP's track record comes out looking very bad. 🧵#auspol

For context, WG1 updated the physical science while WG2 outlined the climate change impacts we are already experiencing, and can expect in the future. Think of it as volume one on what is happening, volume two on how bad it is, and volume three on our last best chance...

Second piece of context. Last year, leaked documents revealed that the Australian government actively lobbied to have findings from this very report suppressed to avoid admitting the need to phase out coal.
unearthed.greenpeace.org/2021/10/21/lea…

This leak was just another piece of evidence that reveals a pattern of the Morrison government actively working to obfuscate and block climate progress on the global diplomatic stage:

https://twitter.com/David_Ritter/status/1499125117389254656?s=20&t=P-kinFbd9S4-3EekdK_5jQ

Now to the report's central theme: we are in the critical decade for humanity.
Our decisions will decide the scale of damage we face from the climate crisis & our prospects for future flourishing.
We have the solutions - but we are in an emergency now. ipcc.ch/working-group/…

One clear finding is that no country around the globe is yet reducing emissions at the speed required to limit warming to 1.5C.
Even if all current commitments are met, we will still use up the remaining carbon budget for 1.5C by 2030.

In this context, Australia’s complete failure to commit to deep, rapid emissions cuts by 2030, & the lack of any credible target or mechanism for emissions reduction at the speed and scale required, is shown up as reckless vandalism on a planetary scale:
theguardian.com/environment/20…

The fossil fuel infrastructure that currently exists will already create more emissions than is compatible with 1.5C.
This again reinforces what we knew - we can’t have any new coal, oil or gas, & we need to retire what exists much earlier than planned:
iea.org/reports/net-ze…

Again, flash to Australia, where Commonwealth and state governments continue to permit, encourage and subsidise the coal, oil and gas sectors.
Last month the head of the United Nations specifically called out Australia for this ‘madness’:
smh.com.au/environment/cl…

The report reveals that globally, removing fossil fuel subsidies alone could reduce emissions by up to 10% by 2030.
But in Australia, fossil fuel subsidies surged to a staggering $11.6 billion last year - that’s $22,000 in taxpayer money per minute.
reneweconomy.com.au/perverse-austr…

This report reveals that the whole planet needs to act more quickly. As we know, Australia is a noteworthy laggard.
Our embarrassingly regressive and recalcitrant approach to global climate progress landed us dead last among 170 nations on climate action.
washingtonpost.com/world/2021/07/…

A key finding is that in order to meet the Paris Agreement & limit warming to 1.5C with little to no overshoot, global carbon emissions need to be about halved by 2030 from 2019 levels.
The good news - solutions to achieve this exist and have low cost implications.

This report makes abundantly clear that we have all the solutions we need, right now.
It identifies that multiple low-carbon technologies have rapidly progressed since the previous IPCC assessment, making our clean energy transition more achievable than ever before.

The speed of development and cost decreases of renewable energy, backed by batteries, has occurred much faster than experts expected around the world. Since 2010, the unit cost of solar has dropped 85%, wind by 55% and batteries by 85%.

The report reiterates the crucial finding that renewables, backed by batteries, are now cheaper & more reliable than coal or gas.
Again, contrast to the Morrison government - backing in more coal and gas, and attempting to extend the life of fossil fuels:
theguardian.com/australia-news…

As we build a clean energy world, we can also build a fairer and more just world that is also on the road to broader ecological recovery.
sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

In summary, this report absolutely exposes the Morrison govt’s reckless approach to our future, with the solutions proposed standing in stark contrast to their current plans for our country.
Morrison and co remain in thrall to the Fossil Fuel Order:
arena.org.au/empire-of-the-…

The contrast between the solutions pathways in this report, and our national situation is very clear.
Our politicians are currently failing their most basic duty - to safeguard the security of the Australian people.
theconversation.com/ipcc-finds-the…

It is both a terror and a privilege to live in this most critical decade. Our actions now will decide our fate, the fates of our neighbours, and of millions yet unborn, as well as that of every ecosystem on the planet.

We know that great historic change is often non-linear and when it does come, is wildly faster than expected. The IPCC WG3 report makes clear that that change right now - at emergency speed and scale. It is our shared job to overcome the vested interests that stand in the way.