A new report released this Monday by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) shows that humans are responsible for virtually all of global warming over the past 200 years. The document even launches a “final warning”: Either the international community takes immediate action, or a climate collapse cannot be prevented.
But he guarantees: There are enough technologies and resources to reverse the crisis. There’s still time. But the deadline is running out quickly.
According to scientists more than 3 billion people live in places that are “very vulnerable” to climate change, which could have devastating consequences in the coming decades.
Between 2030 and 2035, the world will experience the first few years with temperatures above 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to the preindustrial era. Although the past eight years have been the hottest period in recorded history, the UN estimates they will be considered “cool years” in the future compared to what lies ahead.
The same report also highlights how the The rate of temperature increase over the past half century is the highest in 2,000 years and like them Carbon dioxide concentrations are at their highest levels in at least two million years.
“Humanity is on thin ice and that ice is melting rapidly,” said UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres. “The climate time bomb is ticking,” he said.
Instructions for defusing the bomb
Despite the warning, the IPCC report is considered a guide to defusing the climate bomb. “It is a survival guide for humanity. As it shows, the 1.5 degree limit is achievable,” Guterres said.
According to the conclusions, climate action is needed on all fronts. “Everything, everywhere, all at once,” the UN said.
A climate solidarity pact is required for the company. The agreement must contain:
Accelerating deadlines to reach netzero emissions by 2050, always taking into account individual country capacities.
In practice, this means that developed world leaders must commit to achieving as close to zero emissions as possible by 2040
Emerging market leaders must commit to getting as close to net zero as possible by 2050.
“Now is the time for all G20 members to come together in a concerted effort, pooling their scientific resources and skills, and their proven and affordable public and private sector technologies to make carbon neutrality a reality by 2050,” he defended Guterres.
“Each country must be part of the solution. Requiring others to move first only guarantees that humanity comes last,” he said.
The pact also provides:
- No new coal mining and coal phaseout by 2030 in OECD countries and 2040 in all other countries.
- End all international public and private financing of coal.
- Ensure netzero electricity generation by 2035 for all developed countries and 2040 for the rest of the world.
- Cease all licensing or financing for new oil and gas in line with International Energy Agency findings.
- Stop any expansion of existing oil and gas reserves.
- Shifting fossil fuel subsidies towards an equitable energy transition.
- Defining a global reduction in existing oil and gas production in line with the global goal of net zero by 2050. “I also call on the CEOs of all oil and gas companies to be part of the solution,” Guterres said.
For him, governments have yet to spell out the actual emissions cuts for 2025 and 2030, as well as efforts to change business models to phase out fossil fuels and expand renewable energy.
There is still a need for transformation in shipping, aviation, steel, cement, aluminum, agriculture.