The new 2015 Australian Greenhouse Gas Inventory has revealed carbon pollution continues to rise in NSW, despite the onset of climate impacts and the need for urgent emissions reduction to avoid an unsafe future.
The Age of Climate Consequences has arrived – summer heat records broken in Sydney and regional areas over the past Summer, coral bleaching has occurred in Sydney Harbour and global sea level rises are now expected to be as high as 2.7 metres.
NSW Greens MP Justin Field said the NSW Government has no serious pathway to meeting its commitment to restrain emissions and keep global warming under two degrees by 2050.
“Doing nothing about NSW’s rising greenhouse gas emissions is no longer an option,” Mr Field said today.
“NSW has had climate plan, after climate plan, after climate plan over the past decade under governments led by both major parties, yet we’re not seeing the urgent and significant reductions in carbon pollution needed.
“We’ve seen this State Government move rapidly and decisively when it’s acting in its own interest to build a new motorway or privatise yet another state asset.
“Now we need the Premier and her government to act in the best interests of the community with urgent climate action and keeping communities safe with mitigation.
“The upcoming State Budget is an ideal opportunity for dedicated funding and a commitment to fast-track renewable energy, transition the economy out of fossil fuel power and support community projects that build resilience,” he said.
State and Territory Greenhouse Gas Inventories 2015 available here: http://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/greenhouse-gas-measurement/publications/state-and-territory-greenhouse-gas-inventories-2015 Total Australian emissions: 537.9 MtCo2e (Page 21) 2014 figures here: http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/319ea5f4-e3d9-4af1-97eb-2a4ba661713e/files/state-territory-inventories-2014.pdf Total Australian emissions: 525.2 MtCo2e (Page 19) The NSW Greens have a 10-year plan to phase out the state’s reliance on coal and make a just transition to renewable energy. Full details here: https://jeremybuckinghammlc.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/end-coal-mining-in-10-years.pdf
