The Kākā by Bernard Hickey
The Kākā by Bernard Hickey
Dawn chorus: 'A code red for humanity'
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Dawn chorus: 'A code red for humanity'

First IPCC report since 2013 says 'immediate, rapid & large-scale reductions' in emissions' would (just) keep warming to 1.5c, but risk of 5.7c of warming by 2100 without change
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TLDL & TLDR: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its first major report in 13 years last night showing that the world could still keep the planet from warming more than 1.5c if global emissions were cut in an ‘immediate, rapid and large-scale’ way to get to net zero emissions by 2050.

A continued lack of action could see temperatures rise 5.7c by 2100 in the worst case scenario where various tipping points and feedback loops were triggered that saw a complete ice melt and sea levels rising 65m. People born today will be alive in 2100.

The IPCC report warns of a scenario where catastrophic ice melting causes sea levels to rise 65m within the lifetime of children alive today. Photo: William Bossen

My view: New Zealand and most of the rest of the world has barely started reducing emissions, let alone stopping them rising, because politicians and voters do not want to take the immediate pain of cuts. For example, just this morning, Transport Minister Michael Wood was reported as refusing Waka Kotahi’s proposal for tolls on the new Puhoi to Warkworth highway.

Congestion charging in cities seems a long way off in this political economy where even the mere suggestions of preferencing cyclists over motorists and increasing taxes on double-cab utes triggered a Mike Hosking-esque revolt that helped drive Labour’s support down 10 percentage points during a ‘winter of discontent’.

Meanwhile, the Huntly power station burnt many tonnes of coal last night after very cold weather across the country saw many people turn on new heat pumps and heaters to generate a record-high surge in electricity demand. That forced the first emergency cuts in power supplies in ten years. (Stuff) Electric Kiwi’s CEO Luke Blincoe rightly questioned whether the electricity market here is working. (TVNZ)

Elsewhere, the prospects for reopening the economy are receding into next year. PM Jacinda Ardern said last night it was unlikely the bubble would open again when the likes of New South Wales are talking about learning to ‘live with Covid’. Byron Bay was locked down yesterday. Reinforcing the risks for the economy, it emerged yesterday that nearly 80 unvaccinated Port of Tauranga workers had been in contact with a ship with Covid-positive crew. Just 10% of the port workers on the ship were vaccinated.

Ardern blamed Covid misinformation and the Government is mandating vaccination for all privately-employed port workers, but only by the end of September. One reason for the reluctance to force vaccination until now is exporters and importers say removing staff would cause major disruptions to supplies.


Other scoops and news breaking this morning


The best coverage of the IPCC report


Signs’ of the times news


Notable other views


Useful longer reads


Kākā pic of the day


Some fun things

Ka kite ano

Bernard

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