Despite warmest decade on record, we still act like “addicts blowing our carbon budget”
We’re blowing through our carbon budget the way an addict blows through cash. At a time when carbon dioxide pollution is higher than it’s ever been.
Read the latest insights and analysis from the experts at Oil Change International.
We’re blowing through our carbon budget the way an addict blows through cash. At a time when carbon dioxide pollution is higher than it’s ever been.
António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, opened this year's climate change talks with a rousing speech, stating: “Do we really want to be remembered as the generation that buried its head in the sand, that fiddled while the planet burned?”
According to UNEP, collective ambition must increase more than fivefold over current levels to deliver the cuts needed over the next decade for the 1.5°C goal, or put another way, global greenhouse gas emissions need to fall by 7.6 per cent each year between 2020 and 2030.
Yesterday, in excess of 100 people held a sit-in in the office of Governor Brown of Oregon, demanding she oppose the controversial Jordan Cove LNG plant. They sang “No LNG” and “Governor Brown, do your job”.
The world is on track to produce about 120 per cent more fossil fuels in 2030 than would be consistent with limiting warming to 1.5 degrees, and 50 per cent more than would be consistent with limiting warming to 2 degrees.
Yesterday, the EIB announced it will end financing for fossil fuel energy projects from the end of 2021.
When politicians fail to address the climate crisis – we have no choice but to rise up and shut down the fossil fuel industry.
"Having exhausted every other option", the Green New Deal is "is the only kind of climate response that stands a chance of not going up in smoke.”
The local protesters, typified by the wonderful Nanas, maintained a protest camp against Cuadrilla through rain and shine, through hail and snow, through night and day, they said they had the science behind them, they had history on their side. But it was a David and Goliath fight. And as of last Friday, David has won. For now at least.
The Californian fires are a “tipping point” for many residents as they realize that life will never be the same. They must also be the tipping point for clear concise action by politicians to force the oil industry to begin ramping down their operations now. There can be no more excuses.