The lead author was recently employed by federal govt and appointed to NSW govtnet zero commission and QLD govt 'clean economy panel. Some nice fossil fuel projects planned in those states. He's the latest old guy of many to complain to my boss about my unprofessional social media 🤣
However I can see why he would get employment with denialist governments; they must love arguments like this.
The lead author is from one of my ANU affiliations - whose just retired director recently wrote to tell me there is no climate change "emergency" because it's "expected". I applied as his replacement, naturally was not short listed. Sophistry and denial - both examples. Very sad.
Also, this is not net zero. Energy from renewables will (hopefully) replace energy from fossil fuels. But it will NOT lower GHG levels, it will only slow GHG growth. M/time, just as with old fashioned net zero, it creates moral hazard, this false equivalence could paradoxically delay the transition.
"360 million tonnes [mt] of emissions could be negated by a mix of green exports". Word "negated" is objectionable. "Saving" 204 mt of CO₂ is not same as sequestering 204mt (another pipedream btw); hole we are in wouldn't get shallower; the GHG emissions aren't cancelled.
Australia should just get on with the energy transition (at least attempting to). I hope the COP selection committee sees through this, but they probably won't. Net zero is a mix of scam, delusion, desperation & wishful thinking. www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.116...