The Conversation

Leaders of the world’s wealthiest 20 countries failed to reach any major commitments on climate action, including a timeline to phase out fossil fuels. Caitlin Byrne, Director, Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University Susan Harris Rimmer, Professor and Director of the Policy Innovation Hub, Griffith Business School, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When Prime Minister Scott Morrison returns from the Glasgow climate summit, he must start a proper national conversation on net-zero. Frank Jotzo, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy and Head of Energy, Institute for Climate Energy and Disaster Solutions, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Helping developing nations pay for the expensive work of emissions reduction and adaptation benefits everyone on the planet. Melanie Pill, PhD candidate, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Reach net zero requires policies spanning energy, industry, transport, agriculture, land use, even trade. Climate change is a whole-of-government issue. It’s every minister’s problem. James Ha, Associate, Grattan Institute Alison Reeve, Deputy Program Director, Energy and Climate Change, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Pacific nations look to New Zealand for climate leadership. It has enshrined carbon neutrality by 2050 and a 1.5℃ target in law, but, so far, emissions have continued to rise. Nathan Cooper, Associate Professor of Law, University of Waikato Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Labor is not due to announce its full climate plan until after international climate talks in Glasgow. Rebecca Pearse, Lecturer, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia’s southwest is a biodiversity hotspot - and it’s also a climate change hotspot. Something has to give. Jatin Kala, Senior Lecturer and ARC DECRA felllow, Murdoch University Belinda Robson, Associate Professor, Murdoch University Joe Fontaine, Lecturer, Environmental and Conservation Science, Murdoch University Stephen Beatty, Research Leader (Catchments to Coast), Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University Thomas Wernberg, Professor, The University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Restoring farmland is one of the best ways to tackle climate and environmental issues over the long-term. But this doesn’t appear to be part of the Nationals deal. Paul Martin, Director, Australian Centre for Agriculture and Law, University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For a net-zero plan not to include a strategy to phase out this enormous contribution to climate change is an abrogation of responsibility. Jeremy Moss, Professor of Political Philosophy, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The UN’s new Emissions Gap Report shows we’re on track to overshoot the Paris target of 1.5℃. If we don’t close this emissions gap, what will Australia, and the rest of world, be forced to endure? Andrew King, ARC DECRA fellow, The University of Melbourne Malte Meinshausen, A/Prof., School of Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia’s business sector has recognised the profits to be made in the hydrogen transition. Acting quickly, and powering the shift with renewable energy, is key. John Mathews, Professor Emeritus, Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The brutal arithmetic behind the prime minister’s carbon reduction plan leaves no place for coal. John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The indirect losses from one heatwave in Western Australia caused A$4.14 billion per year worth of damage. Alistair Hobday, Senior Principal Research Scientist - Oceans and Atmosphere, CSIRO Dan Smale, Research Fellow in Marine Ecology, Marine Biological Association Kathryn Smith, Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Marine Biological Association Thomas Wernberg, Professor, The University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Electricity should be a main focus, but big improvements are also needed in transport, industry, agriculture and buildings. Anna Skarbek, CEO at ClimateWorks Australia, Monash University Anna Malos, Australia - Country Lead, ClimateWorks Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is poised to announce Australia will adopt a target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. But it’s too little, too late. Lesley Hughes, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University Will Steffen, Emeritus Professor, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

By the end of the summit, we’ll know how far nations are willing to go to address humanity’s biggest challenge. But while international politics matter, domestic politics are what counts. Christian Downie, Associate Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

China and the US could supercharge global climate action. But if they fail to cooperate, there will be dire consequences for all. Hao Tan, Associate Professor, Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle Elizabeth Thurbon, Scientia Associate Professor in International Relations / International Political Economy, UNSW John Mathews, Professor Emeritus, Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University Sung-Young Kim, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, Discipline of Politics & International Relations, Macquarie School of Social Sciences, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A steadily-tightening emissions car ceiling of the kind common in other countries could save drivers money and do the bulk of the work needed to reach Australia’s first emissions target. Marion Terrill, Transport and Cities Program Director, Grattan Institute Lachlan Fox, Graduate Assistant, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The real decisions on Australia’s emissions reduction are being made by state governments and civil society, or outside the country altogether. John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Pacific island nations have shaped the international response to climate change. At the United Nations summit in Glasgow, they’ll draw a line in the sand. Wesley Morgan, Researcher, Climate Council, and Research Fellow, Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.