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Climate change can still be reversed

Don’t despair – still time to reverse climate change, Canberra Times, JOHN QUIGGIN 09 Feb, 2012 The numbers are daunting. Global atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases already amount to the equivalent of 390ppm, and current emissions are contributing around 2ppm each year. Emissions are still increasing, and were barely dented by the global financial crisis. The time remaining to turn this around is short. Patterns of energy use are largely determined by long-lived capital investments in electricity generation, transport networks and motor vehicle production systems. If current patterns of investment persist until 2025 or beyond, the chances of reaching the 2025 target are bleak.

The good news is that, at least for electricity generation, a decarbonised energy system appears to be feasible. The prices of the main renewable technologies, wind and solar photovoltaics have been dropping rapidly, to the point where they are feasible alternatives to fossil fuels. The same has not been true, so far, for nuclear power,……

Time is running short, but there are a few hopeful signs. China and India have dipped a toe or two in the water, introducing both carbon taxes and feed-in tariffs for renewable energy. The taxes are at very low levels initially, but may be increased over time. There is even an outside chance that the political situation in the US, which came agonizingly close to introducing an emissions trading scheme in 2009 and 2010, might change for the better. Looking at the huge amount that needs to be done to stabilise the global climate, and the limited time left to do it, it is easy to give way to despair. But there is still (just) enough time to turn things around, if world leaders can be made to put our long-term future ahead of short-run expediency. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/opinion/editorial/general/dont-despair-still-time-to-reverse-climate-change/2449321.aspx?storypage=2

February 10, 2012 - Posted by | general

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