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> 7.5 million
TREES PLANTED
since 1997
20 October 2009
Five years to act!
New research commissioned by the WWF finds that runaway climate change is almost inevitable without specific action to implement low-carbon re-industrialisation over the next five years.
The point of no return is estimated to be 2014, after which the probability of runaway climate change is considerably greater than the probability of keeping the global average temperature from rising more than 2°C.
The report identifies that the key constraint to meeting emissions levels needed to prevent dangerous climate change is the speed at which the economy can make the transformation to low-carbon resources, industries and practices. Today, only three out of 20 industries are moving sufficiently fast enough.
The report finds that carbon trading schemes alone, are not effective in reducing emissions to adequate levels, as they do not promote the growth of important but initially higher-cost technologies.
To achieve the required low-carbon economy, the report recommends:
- Clean energy generation, energy efficiency, low-carbon agriculture and sustainable forestry must lead the transformation to a low-carbon economy.
- Rapid expansion of clean industries - between 20% and 25% every year.
- Long term investment views - some technologies and resources will take two or more decades to reach commercial viability.
- Governments must create a stable long-term investment environment that fosters a secure market for all low-carbon industries and their investors.
Visit wwf.org.au for more information.