<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/08/un-experts-demand-crackdown-on-greenwashing-of-net-zero-pledges-cop27>
"A UN group set up to crack down on the greenwashing of net zero pledges by
industry and government has called for “red lines” to stop support for new
fossil fuel exploration and overuse of carbon offsets.
The “high-level expert group”, created in March by the UN secretary general,
António Guterres, to advise on rules to improve integrity and transparency in
net zero commitments by industry, regions and cities, said climate plans must
include deep cuts in greenhouse gases before 2030, and not delay action until
closer to 2050.
It stressed serious commitments must prioritise deep cuts in absolute emissions
by 2030, with carbon offsets – which allow companies and governments to pay for
cuts elsewhere instead of reducing their own pollution – to be used only for
further reductions “above and beyond” that. Rules were needed to ensure offsets
were high-quality and came from a reliable and verifiable source, the group
said.
The group of experts was created after widespread concern about greenwashing,
including claims by major fossil fuel companies that they were aiming for net
zero emissions by 2050 while backing new coal, oil and gas developments and
relying heavily on offsets.
A
Guardian investigation this year revealed that oil and gas companies,
including several with net zero pledges, were still planning vast new
developments that would push the world well beyond the goals of the landmark
2015 Paris agreement. In Australia, they include Woodside, which has taken on
BHP’s global petroleum assets and is planning to open new fields off the
north-west coast."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
