The Paris climate agreement was ratified yesterday by prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific climate campaigner Shani Tager said: “Ratifying the Paris climate agreement marks a new dawn for Australia’s commitment to a safe and healthy climate.
“By ratifying the agreement just hours after Donald Trump won the US election, Malcolm Turnbull has sent a strong signal that the global momentum to combat climate change will not be slowed down by those too short-sighted to see its importance.”
“The ambitious global targets that Australia now has to meet to keep our planet safe can only be accomplished by making a huge climate U-turn and banning new coal mines and upgrading Australia to clean and reliable renewable energy.
“This ratification will be meaningless unless there’s a substantial change in climate policy from the Turnbull government.”
The potential carbon emissions from the world’s existing operational fossil fuel reserves would already exceed the Paris climate agreement upper target of a 2C temperature increase limit, making any new fossil fuel projects entirely incompatible with global climate targets.
ENDS
Canberra, 11 November 2016 – A display of solar panels was set up by Greenpeace Australia Pacific on the Parliament House lawn this morning to mark Australia’s ratification of the Paris climate agreement.