The following statement from Professor Will Steffen, was made on behalf of the Climate Council on 1 March 2018. Professor Steffen is an expert who has carried out extensive research related to climate change and sustainability. He is is the Executive Director of the ANU Climate Change Institute at the Australian National University, was on the panel of experts supporting the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee,  served as the Science Adviser to the Australian Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, and was chair of the Antarctic Science Advisory Committee.

 

Australia’s greenhouse gas pollution levels have jumped yet again, increasing for the third consecutive year, following the release of the latest national data.

The Department of the Environment and Energy’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory report shows Australia’s greenhouse gas pollution levels increased by 0.8 percent (without land use change and forestry) over the year to September 2017.

Climate Councillor and international climate scientist Professor Will Steffen said the latest data shows Australia’s pollution levels continue to reach disappointing new heights.

“This is an abject failure and Australia can do better than this. We are now becoming complacent, as the nation’s greenhouse gas pollution levels consistently rise, every quarter since March 2013,” he said.

“The window of opportunity to tackle climate change is rapidly closing. We cannot sit on our hands and allow another year to go by, when more than 554 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (in 12 months to September 2017) is pumped into the atmosphere.”

“All of this data should serve as yet another serious warning signal for the Federal Government to act swiftly to cut our rising pollution levels and to tackle climate change.”

“We must continue the transition to clean, affordable and reliable reliable renewable energy and storage technologies through strong and credible climate and energy policy. The proposed National Energy Guarantee will do nothing but guarantee failure when it comes to tackling climate change.”

“Renewables have proven themselves time and time again, our states and territories have embraced their necessity in Australia’s future, now the Federal Government should do the same.”