Prof Will Steffen with 250 scientists and scholars warn us of climate collapse

"Only if policymakers begin to discuss this threat of societal collapse might we begin to reduce its likelihood, speed, severity, harm to the most vulnerable – and to nature."

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/06/a-warning-on-climate-and-the-risk-of-societal-collapse

It’s now 2020 and there is little sign that global climate policies are on track to bend the curve on emissions. Australia has ignored Schellnhuber’s dire warning and are promoting gas expansion.

We are at the brink of irreversible climate collapse.

https://www.nature.com/news/three-years-to-safeguard-our-climate-1.22201

Approaching two degrees could risk everything.
We must heed the lessons in the influential 2018 “Hothouse Earth” paper and rapidly reduce emissions.
The later we leave this the more likely we are to create an “inhospitable” planet.

https://www.pnas.org/content/115/33/8252

Prof Hans Joachim Schellnhuber:
"We must never forget that we are in a unique situation with no precise historic analogue. The level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is now greater, and the Earth warmer, than human beings have ever experienced."

…https://52a87f3e-7945-4bb1-abbf-9aa66cd4e93e.filesusr.com/ugd/148cb0_a0d7c18a1bf64e698a9c8c8f18a42889.pdf

2018: The world’s leading climate scientists warned there are only 12 years for global warming to be kept to a maximum of 1.5C, “beyond which even half a degree will significantly worsen the risks of drought, floods, extreme heat and poverty”

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/08/global-warming-must-not-exceed-15c-warns-landmark-un-report

Three of Australia’s major trading partners have committed to net zero commitments by 2050-60.

“In a call on Tuesday night, Morrison turned down his British counterpart, Boris Johnson, when asked to sign up to a 2050 net zero commitment”

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/31/net-zero-what-if-australia-misses-the-moment-on-climate-action

Morrison’s handpicked COVID-19 Commission recommends not just public spending on gas industry infrastructure, but underwriting and “sweeping changes” to create a market.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/21/leaked-covid-19-commission-report-calls-for-australian-taxpayers-to-underwrite-gas-industry-expansion

Australia, second worst in the world on climate action outdone only by Brunei, has emerged as “an international laggard”, accused of “actively obstructing progress towards global cooperation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions” including the UN process.

https://reneweconomy.com.au/australia-ranks-second-worst-in-world-on-climate-action-outside-top-50-on-clean-energy-90879/

Greta Thunberg: “We are still speeding in the wrong direction. Distant hypothetical targets are being set, and big speeches are being given. Yet, when it comes to the immediate action we need, we are still in a state of complete denial."

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/10/greta-thunberg-we-are-speeding-in-the-wrong-direction-on-climate-crisis

On Paris, Morrison govt only sees “higher taxes and the loss of jobs in coal mining. Garnaut, by contrast, sees a golden opportunity for us to shift from an industry in terminal decline to a new set of industries with bright prospects- a global superpower"
https://cpb-ap-se2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.unimelb.edu.au/dist/a/142/files/2020/03/200129_Gittins_ZeroNetCarbonChoice.pdf

Australian manufacturers would save significantly, "one-quarter or more", by switching their power supply entirely to renewables.

"That would mean greater international competitiveness and more high-quality Australian manufacturing jobs.”

https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/theausinstitute/pages/3311/attachments/original/1588894059/Powering-Onwards_FINAL.pdf?1588894059