Carbon Rationing Action Groups

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Why do we need to ration carbon?

America's most eminent climate scientist, James Hansen says warming has brought us to the "precipice of a great “tipping point”. If we go over the edge, it will be a transition to “a different planet”, an environment far outside the range that has been experienced by humanity. It will create  a new planetary environment far outside the range of human experience and exterminate most species on the planet.

Politicians are now talking about allowing temperatures to rise by 3 degrees. The last time it was three degrees hotter, three million years ago, beech trees grew in the Transantarctic mountains and seas were 25 metres higher. Three degrees would likely trigger such events as the deafforestation of the Amazon, and the destruction of the Himalayan and Antarctic ice sheets.   

We urgently need a target of keeping the planet’s temperature rise below 2 degrees to avoid catastrophe, and then work to return the planet's climate to a safe level. Temperatures have risen by about 0.8 degrees so far, and another 0.6 degrees is in the pipeline, so cutting emissions is an immediate and urgent task. 

Our emissions in Australia must be cut by at least 95% by 2050, yet global carbon emissions are rising at an increasing rate. We face a global warming emergency.

Carbon rationing with personal carbon allowances is a fair way to rapidly reduce global warming. Like water restrictions, carbon rationing helps everyone to do their bit to stop climate change. By sharing the task equally and giving people a choice about their personal carbon budget, rationing encourages people to change in the knowledge that others are also acting.

What people say about carbon rationing

BOB CARR: “Individual carbon rationing with penalties for those who exceeded their quotas was one of a number of radical measures that might be needed to tackle climate change, according to the former NSW premier.” Sydney Morning Herald, 18 April 2007
IAN DUNLOP, former Australian senior fossil fuel industry executive: “The schemes so far discussed at State and National level are not sufficiently comprehensive for the task we now face. The simplest, most practical variant, which overcomes their flaws, is a system of Tradeable Energy Quotas… an electronic system for rationing energy.”
DAVID MILIBAND, British Environment minister: “The challenge we face is not about the science or the economic ... it is about politics”… carbon rationing “limit the carbon emissions by end users based on the science, and then use financial incentives to drive efficiency and innovation”. July 2006