Australian politicians are displaying a discernable lack of courage in dealing with the threats of climate change, University of Melbourne researchers are warning. 

A new report released by the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute has detailed how many technological strategies are available to rapidly reduce greenhouse emissions, but many of the major roadblocks faced by their uptake are political – not technological.

The Post Carbon Pathways: Creating a just and resilient post carbon future report draws on interview with leading international climate change researchers, policy markers and activist to explore the political, technological and social changes needed to decarbonise the economy and maximise the ‘enormous opportunities arising from this period of transformation change’.

Launching the report earlier this week, co-author Professor John Wiseman said that many countries with conservative governments, such as Germany and the UK, are already rapidly transitioning into a post-carbon economy.

There is strong evidence that a two degree global temperature rise is a given and we now face trying to stop 4-7 degree catastrophic warming tipping points,”  Professor Wiseman said. 

“However, this report also shows that preventing catastrophic global warming is still possible with large scale investment in renewable energy, and energy efficiency.

“Like these countries leading the world in transitioning to a post carbon economy, Australia needs to take action now to reap the potentially enormous social and economic benefits of investments of investing in renewable energy and a decarbonised economy. 

“We need to encourage and support courageous ethical and moral leadership on climate change at all levels of society and enshrine decarbonisation and climate protection targets in global, national and local government legislation.”