Time to walk away from the net zero fantasy

Fortescue founder and executive chairman and Australian mining tycoon Andrew Forrest said it was time for the world to abandon the “proven fantasy” of net zero emissions by 2050 and instead embrace “real zero” by 2040. emission”.

In an interview with CNBC's “European Roadmap” on Wednesday, Forrest called out corporate executives and politicians unwilling to make the changes necessary to avoid the worst consequences of the climate crisis, setting the stage for leaders willing to take on the challenge of decarbonization. People give way.

Fortescue is one of the most beautiful places in the world fourth largest Iron ore miners, there are Overview plans to stop burning fossil fuels at its Australian iron ore operations by the end of the decade and is urging other companies struggling to reduce burning to follow suit.

“All those leaders who say to me, to the world, to their children, ‘Oh, you know we can’t do it, my company can’t do it, I can’t do it, you don’t understand we actually can’t do it, “Forrest said in an exclusive interview.

“What they're really saying is, you can't do it. I say to the CEOs and political leaders who say, 'I can't do it,' well, how about you step down?” Let a young girl or a wiser leader Being able to do that because the technology is there,” he continued.

“We know the world can achieve true zero emissions in 2040, and I am saying to business people and politicians around the world that it is time to abandon this proven fantasy of net zero emissions in 2050 and adopt true zero emissions in 2040. ,” Forrest said. “We can, we must, let's do it. “

Net zero is the goal of achieving a balance between the carbon emitted into the atmosphere and the carbon removed from the atmosphere.

More than 140 countries, including the United States, India, the European Union and other major polluting countries, have approved plan Achieve net zero emissions.

To meet the crucial 1.5 degrees Celsius warming threshold set out in the landmark Paris Agreement, global carbon emissions should reach net zero around mid-century, according to Energy and Climate Intelligence Sector Nonprofit Organization.

For high-income countries such as the United States, this means reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 or earlier, while for lower-income countries it could mean achieving net-zero emissions in the 2050s or 2060s.

“Real zero is the planet's ability to use the technology it has. It's evolving and will get better soon, but to stop burning all fossil fuels by 2040 using the technology we have,” Faure said. Ste said.

“If we do this in 2030, we have a 50:50 chance of avoiding the worst ravages of global warming – but that’s not going to happen. Fortescue will make it happen. We’re a huge industry The company is also a huge polluter and we will get to true zero burning and we will easily stop burning all fossil fuels this decade, not the next,” he added.

“We are saying to the world, if you want to keep the boundaries of the planet in a future that is inheritable and bearable for your children, then we have to get truly zero emissions. We have to stop burning fossil fuels by 2040,” Forrest said.

scientists have There have been repeated pushes to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions to halt the rise in average global temperatures.

Climate crisis is exacerbating extreme temperatures, with key drivers burning of fossil fuels.