THE United Nations and world’s scientists are calling for an end to fossil fuels in the third instalment of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report, saying there must be “rapid, deep and immediate cuts” to greenhouse gas emissions.
The Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) has today released its Working Group III report, Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change, compiled by thousands of scientists over the past eight years.
The IPCC report found that despite the availability of affordable renewable energy solutions, governments and businesses were failing to act.
Global greenhouse gas emissions must peak by 2025 and halve by 2030 to limit warming to 1.5 degrees, the UN states.
The IPCC said the dramatic reductions in the cost of wind, solar and battery storage technologies over the last decade meant they were already commercially viable and would be the key to decarbonising most of the world’s energy systems.
UN secretary general Antonio Guterres criticised high-emitting countries saying: “Some government and business leaders are saying one thing but doing another. Simply put, they are lying and the results will be catastrophic… but high emitting governments and corporations are not just turning a blind eye, they are adding fuel to the flames.
He said that these countries were “choking our planet, based on their vested interests and historic investments in fossil fuels, when cheaper renewable solutions provide green jobs, energy security and greater price stability.”
“Current climate pledges would mean a 14% increase in emissions and most major emitters are not taking the steps needed to fulfil even these inadequate promises.”
Greg Bourne, Climate Councillor, energy expert, former President of BP Australasia and former advisor to Margaret Thatcher said while some progress was being made, “climate action is nowhere near where it needs to be – and Australia is one of the world’s biggest climate handbrakes”.
