We often hear about tipping points in the Earth’s physical climate. There are also political turning points.
Elections can have a significant impact on the scale of climate action.
The results of the last two polls (the federal election in Australia and the Conservative leadership election in the UK) and the potential for the next two polls (this month’s presidential runoff in Brazil and the US midterm elections in November) Think about the tangible results.
All these countries are very important from a climate point of view. Australia, the UK and the US are the largest emitters in history. Brazil has the largest share of the Amazon rainforest, which is the world’s largest store of carbon dioxide that contributes to global warming.
Australia
In May, voters ousted a conservative coalition that had backed coal and gas, making Australia one of the world’s climate change laggards. Within weeks, the new Labor-led government updated the country’s international climate targets under the Paris Agreement.
Then, in September, the new Parliament signed into law the government’s pledge to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by 43% by 2030.
Indeed, it was only the first step. The government has not provided exact details on how it will achieve that goal or how it will pay for it. Yet, as my Sydney colleague Damian Cave writes, it gave companies a clear signal to invest in emissions reductions. gave.
Last week, the government also announced plans to stem the staggering loss of diversity in Australia’s flora and fauna. Money is still a big question mark. Conservationist says it will require spending far more than his $146 million government allocated for conservation.
UK
The election there resulted in a very different turn.
As soon as Liz Truss was elected leader of the Conservative Party, aka prime minister, she put her efforts into finding more oil and gas in the North Sea. The government has launched a new licensing round to allow energy companies to explore undeveloped oil and gas fields. Energy security is the government’s claim. Climate campaigners say new drilling will not be able to address short-term energy costs (takes years to explore and extract), compromise UK climate goals.
The government also said,liberalized planning rulesThis immediately raised concerns among large conservation groups that the government would ease environmental standards and speed up large development projects. The Royal Bird Conservation Society calls it “attack on natureThe National Trust, a conservation group, criticized the proposed investment zone:free for nature and heritage“
Brazil
On October 30, right-wing incumbent Jair Bolsonaro will face left-wing challenger and former Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva.
The fate of the Amazon rainforest isn’t the only one at stake. As my colleague Jack Nikas wrote, if Bolsonaro loses and refuses to accept the results of the vote, the future of Brazilian democracy itself could be in jeopardy.
Deforestation in the Amazon soared to a 15-year high during Bolsonaro’s tenure. He wants to loosen environmental regulations and open the Amazon to mining and ranching.
Manuela Andreoni, also from the Rio-based climate team, said last week Brazil elected the most conservative parliament since democracy was restored in the late 1980s. A second Bolsonaro administration would have an easier time enacting laws that would further destroy the Amazon.
During his two terms in office, Lula set a variety of environmental records. This time around, he’s leaning toward a climate-friendly agenda and incorporates several proposals from environmentalists into his agenda, including the creation of new protected areas and indigenous reserves.
usa
As for my country, the United States, the 2020 election of President Biden brought the United States back into the Paris Agreement and passed a $370 billion climate law after months of negotiations in the Senate.
Mid-term parliamentary elections will be held on November 8th. If Republicans gain control of Congress, it could affect climate change policy in the short term. For example, as my colleague Lisa says, weakening the ability of the Securities and Exchange Commission to enforce climate disclosure rules. Friedman pointed out.
Equally important, this state law race is important. As Nick Colasanity wrote here, state governments are increasingly shaping voting laws, gun policies, public health, and other issues that govern American life.
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Before You Go: New Life in Indian Industry
When shoppers in places like America bring their reusable woven bags to stores, they’re not only helping the planet. The country’s thriving jute industry has struggled for decades against cheap synthetic fibres. The bags are now popular as a biodegradable alternative.
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Claire O’Neill and Douglas Alteen contributed to Climate Forward. View past newsletters here.