The Impact of the ACT Climate Change Strategy on Global Warming

In an attempt to combat the environmental problems associated with global warming and the carbon footprint, Australia enacted a set of recommendations known as the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Climate Change Strategy, with a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and bettering environmental conditions. The chief tenets of the plan include reducing energy consumption by decreasing Australia’s reliance on non-renewable electricity sources, establishing a plan to make cities more friendly for those without a vehicle, and also capturing methane to use as a source of green energy (The ACT Climate Change Strategy 2007, p. 20). The plan certainly addresses many of the problems linked to global warming, but solving the problem may require further measures.

The effects of global warming have become more prevalent with each passing year. Outlined in the most recent report from the IPCC were the various changes observed in the climate system within the past few decades. Most importantly, the IPCC noted that the global combined land and surface temperature had risen 0.85°C from 1880 to 2012, resulting in the global temperature reaching 1.06°C (IPCC Fifth Assessment Report 2013, p. 3). This change in temperature can largely be attributed to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions that has contributed to the depletion of the ozone layer. The change was also noted in the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report as well, where it was concluded that the global surface temperature had risen from 0.56° to 0.92°C from 1906 to 2005 (IPCC Fourth Assessment Report 2007, p. 30). While some believe the effects of climate change take decades, and sometimes centuries, to fully affect the Earth, there is a noticeable difference between 2007 and 2012, where the surface temperature was 0.92°C in 2007 and 1.06°C in 2012 (IPCC Fourth Assessment Report 2007; IPCC Fifth Assessment Report 2013), marking a 0.14°C change in only five years.

Reports also noted how global warming would directly affect Australia. The 2007 IPCC report concluded that there would be a significant loss of biodiversity in the Great Barrier Reef and Queensland Wet Tropics by 2020 (IPCC Fourth Assessment Report 2007, p. 50) and the 2012 report claimed that heat waves in Australia were a direct result of global warming (IPCC Fifth Assessment Report 2012, p. 23). While there is certainly cause for concern due to Earth’s rising surface temperatures, the primary concern related to warming on a global scale is increased risk for natural disaster.

The International Review of the Red Cross studies the effects of global warming and how those effects can alter the frequency and severity of disasters. The 2010 report stated that climate change increases the frequency of certain hazards, specifically floods and droughts (Kolmannskog and Trebbi 2012, p. 715). Another effect cited in the report is the displacement of citizens to due disasters resulting from human action (Kolmannskog & Trebbi 2012, p. 714). Their contention that most natural disasters are a direct result of climate change is corroborated in a report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, where OCHA determined that around 70 percent of disasters are climate related, up 50 percent from only two decades prior (Climate Change – Threats and Solutions n.d., par. 1). Lastly, the NARCLiM project outlined how climate change has produced a number of undesirable effects in Australia, including greater brushfire danger, more severe droughts, and rising sea levels (Observed changes in New South Wales climate 2010, p. 2).

With the effects of climate change being undeniable, it presents a number of problems for the ACT going forward. Although they have outlined a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat global warming, many of the goals they hope to achieve are vaguely outlined, making it difficult to enact concrete plans to solve the climate problems facing the region. For example, their report cites how greenhouse gas emissions are caused by the increased use of electricity for heating and cooling purposes. They later state that if every thermostat were lowered by one degree, greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced and heating costs would also be reduced by 10 percent (The ACT Climate Change Strategy 2007, p. 24). The problem with their goal in this situation is that it involves wishful thinking. They are expecting citizens to be just as concerned with reducing their energy consumption as the government. A better idea to solve this problem would be to either place a cap on the amount of energy citizens can use, or work to develop more efficient ways to heat and cool buildings.

Another solution to the climate change problem suggested in the ACT Report is to plan cities so residents are less dependent on vehicles (The ACT Climate Change Strategy 2007, p. 24). The solution again seems reasonable in theory, but impractical when actually considered. It is unreasonable to expect residents to completely relinquish the convenience of a vehicle in order to ensure a small reduction in emissions. They also do not consider the amount of energy that would have to be used to vastly transform a city from one that is largely dominated by cars to one where residents primarily rely on bicycles and public transportation. Instead of hoping citizens will abandon their cars for more environmentally-friendly modes of transportation, the government would likely have to offer some incentive for doing so, such as large tax credits, or a penalty for those who own a vehicle.

In conclusion, while the ACT plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is commendable and a step in the right direction, it is ultimately too vague to have a serious effect on reducing the impact of climate change. Many of the goals, such as reducing energy consumption by lowering thermostats and eliminating the reliance upon vehicles, are impractical because they are dependent upon citizens drastically changing their lifestyles. Instead, the government needs to enact more specific and long-term objectives if it hopes to have a serious impact in combating climate change.

Bibliography

Australian Capital Territory 2007, The ACT Climate Change Strategy 2007-2025.

International Panel on Climate Change 2007, Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report.

International Panel on Climate Change 2013, Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis.

International Review of the Red Cross 2010, Climate Change, Natural Disasters and Displacement; A Multi-Track Approach to Filling the Protection Gaps.

NSW Government Office of Environment & Heritage 2010, Observed Changes in New South Wales Climate 2010.

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs n.d., Climate Change – Threats and Solutions.