Targets to cut emissions possible by 2020: new report

Commissioned by Greenpeace, “Paths to a Low-Carbon Future” by Dr Mark Diesendorf from the University of NSW found that a 33 per cent cut in Australia’s emissions by 2020 is possible through the use of proven technologies, such as solar energy, and measures such as halting land clearing and
deforestation.

“The world is currently on track to experience runaway global warming with average temperatures soon to exceed 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels,” Dr Diesendorf said.

“We face a catastrophe unless there is urgent action to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30 per cent by 2020. This short term target is essential if Australia is to play its part in setting the planet on a path to prevent dangerous climate change,” Greenpeace Energy Campaigner Mark Wakeham said.

Dr Diesendorf formulated two scenarios to reduce Australia’s greenhouse emissions. The most effective scenario succeeds in reducing Australia’s emissions to 33 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020. The largest reductions are possible through:
• Improving the efficiency of energy use and increasing its application in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors;
• Renewable sources of electricity, especially wind power and bioelectricity from the residues of existing crops and plantation forests;
• Cutting fugitive emissions from gas and coal production;
• Removing subsidies on electricity for aluminium smelting and requiring the industry to participate in carbon pricing;
• Reducing beef consumption
• Halting land clearing and deforestation

Dr Diesendorf said that beyond 2020 it will be critical to level off the growth in demand for energy if the dangerous 2-degree temperature increase is to be avoided.

“This is possible, but only with a wide range of concerted actions in the energy, industry and land-use sectors, of which improving energy efficiency is the key.”