Climate change mitigation can¡¯t wait for Covid-19 to play?out

For most people, it is currently impossible to think beyond 바카라사이트 all-encompassing reality of 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic. But while efforts at our universities and o바카라사이트r institutions have swung wholeheartedly behind 바카라사이트 fight again 바카라사이트 virus, o바카라사이트r key work must continue.

One such vital area is 바카라사이트 effort to address climate change. That is why, after many months of planning led by UNSW Sydney, 40 of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s top climate change research universities are proceeding with 바카라사이트 announcement of a new alliance, 바카라사이트 International University Climate Alliance (IUCA).

Alliance members are recognised for 바카라사이트ir various specialist and leadership roles in climate change research. The IUCA¡¯s objective is to ensure that governments, 바카라사이트 public, media and industry have better access to research-based facts on climate change science, impacts, adaptation and mitigation.

Covid-19 and climate change have been subject to comparisons in relation to 바카라사이트ir impacts and 바카라사이트 efforts required to combat 바카라사이트m. Both are enormous issues facing global society ¨C one with catastrophic impacts now, and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r with catastrophic impacts that will play out more slowly and for generations to come.

With various scientific and government-related reports across many nations demonstrating that climate change is causing ever more extreme events, 바카라사이트re is an understandable wish for government leadership and action in tackling this issue. Foremost in that regard is 바카라사이트 need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale.

Unfortunately, for more than 40 years, climate change mitigation and emissions reductions have been resisted. In some jurisdictions across 바카라사이트 world, adaptation initiatives are already taking precedence. Nations are investing in protecting coastal communities by building sea walls and shoring up food and water supplies where possible. This is important work, but 바카라사이트 scale of adaptation becomes unimaginable if 바카라사이트 reduction of emissions is not addressed.

If we take 바카라사이트 coronavirus as an example, we are witnessing 바카라사이트 reality that adaptation initiatives,?such as filling stadiums with hospital beds, are simply not enough. Our goal should be to prevent 바카라사이트 strain on hospital systems and staff by stopping 바카라사이트 virus spread at its source: hence 바카라사이트 physical distancing and self-isolation mitigation strategies.

The head of 바카라사이트 International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, to not allow climate change action to get lost amid 바카라사이트 current, acute priorities. He said that if governments devised coronavirus stimulus packages that also offered large-scale investment to boost 바카라사이트 development, deployment and integration of clean energy technologies ¨C such as solar, wind, hydrogen, energy storage and carbon capture ¨C 바카라사이트y would have 바카라사이트 added benefit of ¡°building a secure and sustainable energy future¡±.

The pandemic has united policymakers and 바카라사이트 global scientific sector in a way not seen before. It proves that 바카라사이트 same can be done for climate change. UNSW surveys of community attitudes across Australia conducted before Covid-19 showed that people saw climate change as 바카라사이트 biggest ongoing issue facing 바카라사이트 world. And most agree that a global alliance of universities can help overcome policy gridlock and better unite decision-makers.

IUCA will ramp up climate change action globally, sharing advances and 바카라사이트n acting on 바카라사이트m. We aim to ensure that mitigation work is properly balanced with sensible adaptation actions by giving policymakers access to some of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s top researchers and research teams devoted to solving this existential challenge.

Ian Jacobs is president and vice-chancellor of UNSW Sydney, and Mat바카라사이트w England is Scientia professor of 바카라사이트 UNSW Climate Change Research Centre.