However, in a carbon-reduced economy, it would be quite a while before most people experienced an economic recovery. — Bitter Crank
By which time, of course, it will be too late.
— Wayfarer
Too late for what? — Brett
A new United Nations report paints a bleak picture: The commitments countries pledged to limit the climate crisis are nowhere near enough to stave off record-high temperatures. Delaying change any further will make it impossible to reach desired temperature goals.
The time for "rapid and transformational" change to limit global warming is now, the report says.
The UN Environment Program (UNEP) 2019 Emissions Gap report calls on countries to strengthen the commitments made in the 2015 Paris Agreement to stall climate change.
Current measures will not keep global temperature increases within the 1.5-to-2-degree Celsius range (a "safe" level to which temperatures can rise and not cause devastation, though 1.5 degrees is preferable), according to the report issued Tuesday.
Greenhouse gases reached a record high in 2018 with no sign of peaking, according to a World Meteorological Organization report released Monday. Carbon dioxide levels reached 407.8 parts per million, a unit used to measure the level of a contaminant in the air.
There is more CO2 in the atmosphere today than any point since the evolution of humans
At the current rate, temperatures are expected to rise 3.2 degrees Celsius (5.8 degrees Fahrenheit) by 2100, the UNEP report states.
The changes the UNEP suggests are extreme: To get Earth back on track to the 1.5-degree goal, countries must multiply their commitment level, or the level at which they pledge to reduce their emissions, five times the current rates outlined in the Paris accords.
That means global greenhouse gas emissions must fall at least 7.6% every year to remove 32 gigatons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Incremental change is no longer enough to stall off the potentially devastating effects of a changing climate, the report's authors write.
What the world needs now, they say, is "rapid and transformational action."
What do you imagine the psychological consequences would be to this happening in such a short time. I imagine huge consequences. — Brett
Incremental change is no longer enough to stall off the potentially devastating effects of a changing climate, the report's authors write.
Incremental change is no longer enough to stall off the potentially devastating effects of a changing climate, the report's authors write.
Just what sort of consumption reductions would be necessary?
We would switch to a vegan diet, or at least a largely vegetarian diet. Meat/fish/crustaceans would rarely appear on the table.
We would stop traveling farther than we needed to get to work (if we still had a job) and back. We would use our feet, bicycles, or public transit to get there. We would forego leisure travel beyond the distance we could get to on our own two feet or by bike. Forego air and auto travel altogether.
We would buy no new clothing, shoes, furniture, gadgets, cars, houses, appliances, etc. We would buy food and an occasional replacement item for clothing that was too ragged to use (not just too familiar--too worn out).
We would live in warmer (in hot zones) or cooler (in cold zones) houses, within the limits of safety.
ETc. — Bitter Crank
Would you have to live in areas relevant to your work or position or family size? — Brett
is global warming a challenge too great for humanity to handle? — Tim3003
Careful; while I do see the pragmatic placement of the populations of earth argument you are trying to build and agree with the need for the effort, try not to veer too close to the caste system or if you are make sure to ingrain it with equality and egalitarianism as well as fairness and justice. I'm sure you get what I mean though. — Mark Dennis
people will migrate to water and to cities that have prepared for climate change — Lif3r
fantasies of infinite economic growth — Mark Dennis
If it's the fact of man-made global warming, please do it elsewhere. For this thread I take it as a given that it is chiefly man's activities and their increased CO2 emissions which have caused the problem. — Tim3003
It's odd that this question would be posted on a Philosophy forum. Whether human beings can stop--or slow--climate change seems to me to be a straightforwardly scientific or empirical question. — Jim Grossmann
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