Andrew Forrest Scoffs At Net Zero, Calling It “A Proven Fantasy”

Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!

Andrew Forrest is no shrinking violet. Australia’s mining magnate is hot on the trail of transformative climate action. Last year he sailed his green ammonia-powered ship into Dubai during the COP28 summit to poke his finger in the eye of fossil fuel diehards and he has taken out billboard-sized ads to educate those same stalwarts of fossil fuel fanaticism about their ignorance and stupidity. When his ship was denied permission to enter the port of Los Angeles, he got California Governor Gavin Newsom on the horn and got that decision reversed post haste. That’s the kind of clout Forrest wields around the world.

In an interview with CNBC this week, Forrest said it is high time for the world to walk away from the “proven fantasy” of net zero emissions by 2050 and to embrace “real zero” by 2040 instead. He called on business executives and politicians who are reluctant to make the changes necessary to avert the climate crisis to make way for leaders willing to take on the decarbonization challenge. Forrest owns Fortescue, the world’s fourth largest iron ore mining company, which has outlined plans to stop burning fossil fuels across its Australian iron ore operations by the end of this decade and urged other companies with hard to abate carbon emission to follow suit.

“All those leaders who say to me, say to the world, say to their kids, ‘oh you know we can’t do it, my company can’t do it, I can’t do it, you don’t understand we can’t actually do it. What they are really saying is that you can’t do it. And I’m saying to each of those chief executives and those political leaders who use the words ‘I can’t,’ OK, what about you get off the stage and let on a young girl or wiser leader who can. Someone with a bit of ticker because the technology is there. We know the world can go real zero 2040 and I’m reaching out to the business people and politicians across our planet to say it is time now to walk away from this proven fantasy [of] net zero 2050 and adopt real zero 2040. We can, we must, let’s do it,” Forrest said.

He added, “Real zero is the ability of this planet to use the technology it has right now. It’s evolving and it’s getting better very quickly, but to use the technology, we have right now to stop burning all fossil fuels by 2040. If we did that by 2030, we’ve got a 50:50 chance of avoiding the worst ravages of global warming — that’s not going to happen. Fortescue is going to make it happen. We’re a huge industrial company, massive polluter, we’ll go real zero. We’ll stop burning all fossil fuels easily this decade, not next, this decade. And we’re saying to the world, if you want to hold that planetary boundary to a future which is inheritable, tolerable for your kids, then we must go real zero. We must stop burning fossil fuels by 2040.”

Well, Forrest will get no argument from anyone here at CleanTechnica or from our worldwide audience. That is the kind of down-to-earth straight talk that world leaders in government and industry need to hear. We have been kicking the can down the road for 50 years. It’s time to stop, put on our grownup pants, and get to work.

AI Supports Real Zero

A curious thing happens from time to time at CleanTechnica. Two seemingly unconnected threads come together in ways no one could anticipate. My friend Jock Gill lives in Peacham, an idyllic community in northern Vermont. He sent me an email this week to tell me about an experiment he did with Google’s Gemini Advanced IRS. He asked it for an 800-word treatise on the topic Why Systemic Change is Necessary to Combat Climate Change. What he got was this detailed response, which is actually quite similar to what Andrew Forrest told CNBC.

Here is what Gemini had to say:

The climate crisis is not merely a technological or economic challenge; it’s a systemic one. The systems that have fueled our progress – energy, transportation, agriculture, and manufacturing – are now the very systems driving us towards a climate catastrophe. While incremental improvements within these systems are important, they are insufficient to address the scale and urgency of the problem. We need a fundamental shift, a replacement of these systems with ones that prioritize sustainability, equity, and resilience.

1. The Inherent Unsustainability of Current Systems

Our current systems are built on a foundation of unsustainable practices:

* Fossil Fuel Dependence: Our energy systems are still predominantly reliant on fossil fuels, the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions. Despite the growth of renewable energy, the transition is far too slow to avert dangerous climate change.
* Linear Economy: Our production and consumption patterns follow a linear “take-make-dispose” model, leading to resource depletion, waste generation, and pollution. This model is fundamentally incompatible with a finite planet.
* Industrial Agriculture: Large-scale industrial agriculture contributes significantly to deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity loss. It also relies heavily on chemical inputs that harm ecosystems and human health.
* Unplanned Urbanization: Rapid and unplanned urbanization leads to increased energy consumption, traffic congestion, and air pollution. It also exacerbates the urban heat island effect, making cities more vulnerable to heat waves. These unsustainable practices are not just isolated flaws; they are inherent features of our current systems. As long as these systems remain in place, we will continue to perpetuate the climate crisis.

2. The Limits of Incremental Change

While incremental improvements within existing systems are valuable, they are insufficient to address the scale and urgency of the climate crisis. Here’s why:

* Rebound Effect: Efficiency gains are often offset by increased consumption, negating the environmental benefits. For example, more fuel-efficient cars may lead to people driving more, thus reducing the overall impact on emissions.
* Path Dependency: Existing infrastructure and technologies lock us into certain pathways, making it difficult to adopt radically different approaches. For example, our reliance on car-centric infrastructure makes it challenging to promote public transportation and cycling.
* Political and Economic Barriers: Vested interests in existing systems often resist change, lobbying against policies that threaten their profits. This can slow down or even prevent the implementation of necessary reforms. Incremental changes can buy us some time, but they cannot address the root causes of the climate crisis. We need systemic change to create a truly sustainable future.

3. The Need for Transformative Solutions

Transformative solutions go beyond tweaking existing systems; they aim to replace them with fundamentally different approaches:

* Renewable Energy Transition: A complete shift towards renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and geothermal is essential to decarbonize our energy systems. This requires not just technological advancements but also changes in energy infrastructure and consumption patterns.
* Circular Economy: Transitioning to a circular economy where resources are reused and recycled can minimize waste and reduce our reliance on virgin materials. This requires changes in product design, manufacturing processes, and consumer behavior.
* Agroecology: Promoting agroecological practices that work with nature instead of against it can enhance soil health, biodiversity, and food security while reducing the environmental impact of agriculture.
* Sustainable Urban Planning: Creating compact, walkable cities with efficient public transportation and green spaces can reduce energy consumption, air pollution, and carbon emissions.

These transformative solutions require a holistic approach that considers the interconnectedness of different systems. They also demand collaboration between governments, businesses, and civil society.

4. The Role of Equity and Justice

The climate crisis disproportionately affects marginalized communities who have contributed the least to the problem. Any solution must address these injustices and ensure a just transition for all. This includes:

* Protecting vulnerable communities: Providing support and resources to communities most impacted by climate change, such as those in low-lying areas or those dependent on climate-sensitive livelihoods.
* Ensuring equitable access to resources: Ensuring that everyone has access to clean energy, affordable housing, and sustainable transportation options.
* Empowering marginalized voices: Including the perspectives and knowledge of marginalized communities in decision-making processes.

A just transition is not only a moral imperative but also a practical necessity. Without addressing equity and justice, any solution to the climate crisis will be incomplete and unsustainable.

5. The Urgency of Action

The window of opportunity to avert the worst impacts of climate change is rapidly closing. We can no longer afford to tinker around the edges of the problem. We need bold, transformative action now.

This requires a fundamental shift in our mindset, from one that prioritizes short-term profits and economic growth to one that values long-term sustainability and well-being. It also requires a willingness to challenge the status quo and embrace new ways of thinking and doing.

The task ahead is daunting, but it is not impossible. By replacing the systems that have brought us climate change with ones that prioritize sustainability, equity, and resilience, we can create a future where both people and the planet can thrive.

The Takeaway

I was blown away by the Gemini treatise. My first thought was that if our business and political leaders were as smart as AI, we would not be in the mess we are in right now, where the two contenders for president are terrified to mention the words “climate change” for fear of alienating voters. I understand that in order to govern, one must first get elected, and we presume that Kamala Harris would carry on the policies Joe Biden put in place to promote clean energy, electric vehicles, and low carbon industrial processes, but the fact that most Americans would consider what Andrew Forrest and Gemini have to say as heresy does not bode well.

There is no question that Andrew Forrest is speaking truth to power. Now the question is whether doing so will alter the trajectory of the gathering climate crisis one iota. The truth is, zero emissions is what is necessary to keep the Earth habitable for humans. Net zero is just a charade and a fossil fuel industry money grab designed to keep any major changes from happening until it is too late.