On the road to a carbonless economy

The Climate Change Commission’s report released on Sunday laid out a steep path to climb for New Zealand to meet greenhouse gas targets. We will hardly be taking the journey alone — the same scenarios face other countries around the warming planet.

The changes aim to combat climate disasters including those involving bushfires, flooding, and heatwaves. A record 30 storms ravaged the Atlantic last year, including six hurricanes with winds of 178km/h or more. Horrendous fires scorched parts of Australia and California.

There are specifics relevant to individual countries. Here, our farming and forestry industries, and love of getting out on the roads, are highlighted.

The fact everyone is in the same electric car will help New Zealand’s drive to achieve it. All the world’s major economic blocs recognise this moment as part two of the industrial revolution. All want to dominate the green economy.

That will help the Government push the case for changes and will mean multinational companies will be creating products to be used in dealing with harmful impacts and ways of reducing warming.

The Government charged the commission with discovering if New Zealand’s climate commitments were in sync with global efforts to limit warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. The analysis says we would fall short of targets unless efforts are ramped up. It advises ending coal heating, boosting forestry, and creating energy-saving homes. It says jobs will go in some industries, but will increase in others. New Zealand would need to slash livestock numbers, switch to electric vehicles, and decarbonise our energy in under 15 years.

It sounds a big ask, but think of just a few of the technological changes that have occurred over the past 20 years: iPads and iPhones, Skype, Facebook, YouTube, 3D scans, Android, Instagram, Uber, Tesla, video streaming, lifestyle drones, Slack and Snapchat. People adapt to change and new realities. Key developments are well under way.

Falling prices for wind, solar and batteries mean carbon goals will work out cheaper than previously feared. Last year, for the first time, the European Union and Britain got more electricity from renewables (38 and 42 per cent) than fossil fuels.

General Motors said last week it is aiming to go all-electric as of 2035 for light vehicles. United States President Joe Biden has promised 550,000 charging stations, an all-electric federal fleet of vehicles and doubling America’s offshore wind energy.

Of the proposed changes here, the overhaul of our agriculture would have the most impact on the country’s way of life, culture and traditions.

US climate scientist Zeke Hausfather says: “There’s no silver bullet for agriculture. There’s no solar panels for cows so to speak, apart from meat alternatives, but even there you have challenges around consumer acceptance.”

He likens the road trip to a carbonless economy as one that started about 15 years ago. “The road has been pretty smooth so far. It gets rougher ahead.”