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Greenpeace Australia Pacific CEO Steve Shallhorn said Australia's political leaders can no longer go on proposing the false and dangerous solutions of so-called 'carbon capture' and nuclear power. The real solution to climate change is the clean and safe alternative of renewable energy, which is available in abundance in Australia. This includes solar, geothermal, biomass and wind power.
The IPCC meeting revealed that time is running out for action to dramatically reduce greenhouse emissions and avoid catastrophic consequences this century. It confirms that warming of two degrees Celsius this century will trigger 'positive feedbacks' – releasing more carbon into the atmosphere - and lead to even faster warming.
“The IPCC report shows that we do not have the luxury of time. Nuclear power will take at least 20 years to develop and decades more to have an impact, while also making the world a vastly more dangerous place in which to live. Carbon capture and storage is an industry-inspired fantasy and a diversion from the real solution of renewable energy,” said Shallhorn.
Greenpeace energy campaigner Catherine Fitzpatrick said the IPCC report warns that Australia is likely to be one of the worst affected continents, suffering from significantly drier conditions while also losing World Heritage sites such as Kakadu and the Great Barrier Reef.
“Leading Australian scientists, most recently Professor Mike Archer from the UNSW, have warned that we can no longer afford to be distracted by never-never solutions," Fitzpatrick said.
“Wind and solar power are already technically viable and economic alternatives, providing significant and fast-growing amount of energy in major industrial economies such as Germany and California. Australia also has the potential to develop geothermal power, as recently highlighted by Professor Tim Flannery, and as a coastal population we have vast potential to tap into tidal power.”
Greenpeace calls on Prime Minister John Howard and Opposition leader Kevin Rudd to listen to the people of Australia and embrace home-grown renewable energy solutions in addressing climate change, rather than being the captives of vested interests.
Read more on the IPCC
The IPCC meeting revealed that time is running out for action to dramatically reduce greenhouse emissions and avoid catastrophic consequences this century. It confirms that warming of two degrees Celsius this century will trigger 'positive feedbacks' – releasing more carbon into the atmosphere - and lead to even faster warming.
“The IPCC report shows that we do not have the luxury of time. Nuclear power will take at least 20 years to develop and decades more to have an impact, while also making the world a vastly more dangerous place in which to live. Carbon capture and storage is an industry-inspired fantasy and a diversion from the real solution of renewable energy,” said Shallhorn.
Greenpeace energy campaigner Catherine Fitzpatrick said the IPCC report warns that Australia is likely to be one of the worst affected continents, suffering from significantly drier conditions while also losing World Heritage sites such as Kakadu and the Great Barrier Reef.
“Leading Australian scientists, most recently Professor Mike Archer from the UNSW, have warned that we can no longer afford to be distracted by never-never solutions," Fitzpatrick said.
“Wind and solar power are already technically viable and economic alternatives, providing significant and fast-growing amount of energy in major industrial economies such as Germany and California. Australia also has the potential to develop geothermal power, as recently highlighted by Professor Tim Flannery, and as a coastal population we have vast potential to tap into tidal power.”
Greenpeace calls on Prime Minister John Howard and Opposition leader Kevin Rudd to listen to the people of Australia and embrace home-grown renewable energy solutions in addressing climate change, rather than being the captives of vested interests.
Read more on the IPCC
For further information or comment
Paul Cleary, Energy Advisor P: 6257 6516 M: 0431 055584
