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Climate Crisis: ‘Australia lags, while the world burns’

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Australia blames China and India for their emissions, but Australia has one of the highest emissions per capita in the world

The recent IPCC report shows the science behind global climate change, and there’s no doubt it is the wake-up call the world needs. In Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison is pointing the finger at China and India for their role in emissions.

Morrison is quick to blame China and India for their emissions. Speaking at a press conference Morrison says it could not be ignored that China accounts for “two thirds of global emissions”.

Morrison says China ranks higher in total emissions than Australia, but Australia actually performs far worse if you factor in per capita.

Experts and Politicians say Australia needs to pick up its game in the fight against climate change.

“It’s hard to see how an Australian-run gas recovery is going to help us deal with this climate crisis.”

Australian Greens Senator, Sarah Hanson-Young 

“Australia has one of the highest emissions per capita in the world.”

Scott Hamilton, Energy expert, Ticker Climate co-host

Who is emitting more per capita?

From the outlook, we know China’s emissions are high. However, China emits 5.4 tonnes per capita and in comparison Australia emits 17 tonnes per capita.

Although countries like China and India are stepping up their ambition on climate action. China is putting in wind farms and solar power at rapid rates. India is also doing its bit to make ambitious targets.

 “China is running high-efficiency HDVC cables to get clean power to major cities and demand centres…India’s Prime Minister Modi has just announced the National Hydrogen Mission which aims to get a large piece of the $13 trillion renewable hydrogen pie for India.”
Scott Hamilton, Energy expert, Ticker Climate co-host

What will unfold at COP26 Glasgow?

There is increasing pressure on Australia to have more ambitious targets in November, at the climate summit, COP26 in Glasgow.

World leaders will sit at the table and decide what actions must be taken. Australia is the third largest emitter of fossil fuels in the world, and will be demanded to take action.

“We have to reduce our carbon pollution in the next decade. That means we need to electrify everything” 

Australian Greens Senator, Sarah Hanson-Young 

The rest of the world burns

While Australia lags behind on its climate change targets. Proof of climate change continues to burn right across the planet. Siberia, is the latest to fall victim to extreme heatwaves.

Hundreds of wildfires are burning in the region and are larger than those in Turkey, Greece, Italy, the U.S. and Canada combined.

Wildfires occur each year in heavily forested areas, but this year has been particularly bad due to extreme heat waves and record droughts that researchers have linked to climate change.

Watch this week’s episode of Ticker Climate

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