Page 22 - Climate Control Magazine September 2018

Natural Refrigerants
A Hothouse climate features sea levels 10-60m higher than today.
Australia has committed to ensuring that emissions are 26 per cent lower than 2005 lev- els by 2030.
Environment Minister, Josh Frydenberg, said a review of Australia's climate change policies confirms that Australia is meeting its interna- tional commitments.
Frydenberg said the review found Australia has a strong record in meeting its international emission reduction targets.
He said Australia beat its first Kyoto Protocol target by 128 million tonnes of emissions and updated data released by the Department of Environment and Energy shows Australia’s emissions are now at their lowest level in 28 years on a per capita and GDP basis.
“SO FAR, 90% OF THE 195 SIGNATORIES TO THE 2015 PARIS AGREEMENT HAVE PASSED APPROXIMATELY 1500 PIECES OF NATIONAL POLICY AND LEGISLATION TO ACHIEVE THEIR 2°C COMMITMENTS.”
- MOTT MACDONALD'S GROUP CHAIR, KEITH HOWELLS.
“That equates to a reduction since 1990 of 34 per cent in per capita emissions and 58 per cent on a GDP basis,” the Minister said.
“Official projections show that Australia is now on track to over achieve its 2020 emissions target by 294 million tonnes – an improvement of 70 million tonnes or more than 30 per cent compared to 2016.
“Australia continues to close the gap on the 2030 target, with the required emissions reduc- tions over 2021-2030 falling another 122 Mt com- pared to 2016. This means the abatement task has fallen by around 60 per cent since 2015.”
A meeting of The Parties to the Montreal Pro- tocol met in Austria in late July for the 40th Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group.
The meeting was held to discuss implementa- tion of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on phasing down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) which comes into force on January 1, 2019.
The Vienna meeting was also about prepar- ing the agenda of the 30th Meeting of the Par- ties to the Montreal Protocol (MOP 30), to be held in November 2018 in Quito, Ecuador.
Improving energy efficiency while phasing down HFCs was one of the key topics dis- cussed in Vienna.
While discussion mainly focused on the im- portance of training and system optimisation to enhance energy efficiency, some representa- tives outlined the need to focus on HFC alterna- tives and their potential to improve energy con- sumption to fulfill the Parties'’ obligations under the Kigali Amendment.
The Technology and Economic Assessment Panel –an advisory body to the Montreal Proto- col Parties – said it would update its report on the topic for it to be presented at MOP 30 in November. Meanwhile, Mott MacDonald has published a new report titled Under 2°C: mis- sion possible, which details the range of steps needed to achieve the 2°C pathway by 2050.
The consultancy has set out a timeline which identifies the likely major milestones along the route to achieving the historic Paris Agree- ment, the goal of which is to slow and ultimate- ly halt progressive climate change.
Without immediate meaningful and sus- tained action, the planet faces the strong pos- sibility of dangerous climate change, the re- port warns.
“Global average temperatures are already 1°C above pre-industrial levels, while climate- related weather events are the leading cause of financial loss and viewed by the World Eco- nomic Forum as the biggest threat to the glob- al economy.”
Under 2°C: mission possible is a story based on real life progress to-date, commitments al- ready made and technology improvements in the pipeline.
Under 2°C: mission possible focuses on 2050 because the 2°C pathway requires a net zero emissions economy and meaningful progress will need to be made by the mid-century if this is to be achieved. This is being increasingly recognised by banks, investors and insurers, while it is starting to impact infrastructure owners as well.
Mott MacDonald's group chair, Keith How- ells, said so far, 90% of the 195 signatories to the 2015 Paris Agreement have passed approxi- mately 1500 pieces of national policy and legis- lation to achieve their 2°C commitments.
“Now it's all about implementation,” Howells said.
“Realising the Paris Agreement’s aim of keeping global temperature rise below 2°C is completely achievable. Our Under 2°C: mission possible report illustrates exactly how this can be done by provid- ing a recourse of positive technological, economic and social changes that occur along the way.
“We anticipate unprecedented innovation, research and development to take place be- tween now and 2050, which is great news for fu- ture generations.”
Under 2°C: mission possible can be viewed and downloaded here – https://mottm.ac/ below2degrees. ✺
CLIMATECONTROLNEWS.COM.AU
Minister for Environment & Energy, Josh Frydenberg.
Shadow Minister for Climate Change & Energy, Mark Butler
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