Solutions

By Adrian Whitehead

Do we have the solutions to create a zero emission economy and quickly drawn down our greenhouse gas emissions? At the Zero Emission Network we believe we do.


Time Frames for Implementation

The sooner we reduce our levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases, the better for the climate and the less chance we have of passing points of 'no return' for a number of critical global warming positive feedback mechanisms.

Some of the solutions can be implemented immediately, such as stopping logging native forests and education campaigns around consumption, eg, reducing consumption of lamb, beef and dairy and using energy wisely. Other infrastructure and renewal projects will require more time as planning needs to be done, workers trained and factories built.

We could transition to a post carbon economy within a decade, using similar approaches to reorientation of our economies that occurred during World War II.


Consumption
If we really believed that we faced an emergency, what level of emissions could we personally reduce if we simply choose to? By driving less, using less power, buying fewer things and not eating lamb, beef or dairy, most of us could easily reduce our emissions by 30 – 60 percent tomorrow.


Agriculture
Agriculture is the biggest greenhouse gas emitter in Australia if you take into account the short term effects of methane and agriculture's impact on the transport and stationary energy sectors. The biggest contributor in the agricultural sector is livestock which produce 25% of Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions (calculated at using a 72 GWP for methane). By adopting a beef and lamb free diet (including no dairy), eating dry land grown rice, using fewer animal products and buying food that is grown locally and in-season, your personal impact can be significantly reduced. Increasing soil carbon and reducing the use of artificial fertiliser by using techniques such as organic agriculture can reduce emissions on the farm.


Stationary Energy
There is massive potential to reduce our energy use through energy efficiency, good design, and behaviour change in every part of our economy. At the same time we can replace our fossil fuel based energy systems using a combination of commercially available and proven renewable technologies, including options such as wind power, solar thermal, solar cells, geothermal and wave power, working from a retrofitted and improved grid more suited to renewables. Renewable systems can supply both our base load and peaking power needs; hydro already supplies peak power, and using technology developed by Keith Lovegrove and his team at ANU or similar, solar thermal energy can be stored and drawn on as needed. Smart meters in homes and businesses can also manage peak demands by remotely turning off high energy using systems for short periods.


Transport
Zero emission transport is possible. Excellent walking and cycling facilities combined with an extensive high quality public transport system based on renewable powered electric rail are the fundamental elements. Electrified rail would be expanded to rural areas and between major cities for moving people and freight. Freight can even be moved around large cities on the light rail networks from transport hubs. Super fast rail between major population centres can replace most domestic flight needs. Car transport will be limited to electric vehicles and vehicles running on bio-fuels for some rural and remote uses.


Forestry and Woodlands
We are still destroying our native forest for wood chips and timber, for use both here in Australia and overseas. When these forests are logged thousands of tons of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere. Other forest, wood and scrub land is cleared for farm and grazing land. The solution is simple: we should stop destroying and clearing native vegetation and we should replant significant areas of what we have destroyed to absorb atmospheric carbon, preserve biodiversity, improve our water catchments and help in low level cloud formation.


Absorbing CO2 from the air and cooling the earth
Building soil carbon through techniques such as organic agriculture can absorb large amounts of atmospheric CO2. Large amounts of carbon can also be absorbed from the air (over decades) by sustainably growing woody and cellulose material, charring it and then ploughing the char in large quantities into the soil. This is a safe, stable store and it also improves agricultural productivity. Cooling can also be helped by replanting native forests in the tropics and temperate areas to absorb carbon and recreate conditions for the formation of sunlight-reflecting cloud. Other sustainable techniques are being developed.


Systemic Change and Social Equity
We have entered a climate and sustainability emergency that will require a global systemic change and cooperative effort on a massive scale if we are to come through it. The Dutch government has concluded that globally we need to improve our eco-efficiency of most human activities by a factor of 20 to 50 if we are to become sustainable and globally socially equitable. This means a reduction in material and energy inputs and pollution outputs by 95-98%. Richer countries will need to transfer resources, know-how and technology to the poorer countries at no cost and aid in adaptation measures including food provision, infrastructure repair and population relocation on a large scale.


Government
Many of the changes we need to make are at a societal level and will need to be led by government. Governments must be made to take the lead and those that fail will be held to account in some point in the future. Consequently it is vital that people vote for the political parties that are taking climate change seriously and are proposing real solutions. Sadly no major party is offering any serious solutions, including the Greens, though a number of minor parties such as the Socialist Alliance and What Women Want developed very strong climate policies at the last federal election. A good political climate analysis can be seen at www.VoteClimate.org.au


Zero Emissions Now campaign
To have any chance of implementing the above solutions we need a strong national and international campaign calling for 'Zero Emissions Now'. We must educate members of our community, industry and government so they understand the seriousness of the situation we face. They must learn that we must act now and that the solutions are ready.


Conclusion
We have the solutions we need to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions; it is simply a political and social issue that prevents us from implementing them.