From: laura gibbons
To: Commission-Public-Records
Subject: [EXTERNAL] My testimony today
Date: Tuesday, December 15, 2020 7:10:13 AM
Attachments: EGR20.pdf
WARNING: External email. Links or attachments may be unsafe.
Here is a written version of my testimony, with the attachment I will mention.
The United Nations Environment Programme recently released its 2020 Emissions Gap Report, which is
its yearly review of the difference between where greenhouse emissions are predicted to be in 2030 and
where they should be to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. They highlight the problem of
shipping and aviation in Chapter 5. I’ve attached the full report to my email.
They say that if current trends are continued, combined international emissions from shipping and
aviation will likely consume between 60 and 220 percent of allowable CO2 emissions by 2050 under the
1.5°C scenario. They note that improvements in technology and operations can improve the fuel
efficiency of transport, but that projected increases in demand mean this will not result in decarbonization
and absolute reductions of CO2.
And that’s just international shipping and aviation, which are not covered under the Paris Agreement.
Including domestic aviation, we’ll be exceeding our carbon limits even further.
The data are clear. What are you going to do about it?
Laura Gibbons (Seattle)
Full Attachment on File in the Commission Office
