A new study by geoscientists in the UK and Netherlands indicates we've nearly run out of time for action to hold global warming at bay. The study, published in Earth System Dynamics by the European Geosciences Union, warns that by 2035 unless action is taken to reduce carbon emissions, increases in the earth's temperature will reach two degrees Centigrade:
"In our study we show that there are strict deadlines for taking climate action," says Henk Dijkstra, a professor at Utrecht University in the Netherlands and one of the study authors. "We conclude that very little time is left before the Paris targets [to limit global warming to 1.5°C or 2°C] become infeasible even given drastic emission reduction strategies." (our emphasis)The dire warning comes as the U.S. fossil fuel industry is emboldened by the Trump administration's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord, it's promotion of coal production and use, and its relaxation of environmental air pollution standards. The fossil fuel industry not only has a place at the table as far as Trump's energy policies are concerned, they own the table.
To illustrate how urgent action is needed to accelerate renewable energy use, we are already fighting a rear guard action:
"To likely limit global warming to 1.5°C in 2100, humanity would have to take strong climate action much sooner. We would only have until 2027 to start if we could increase the share of renewables at a rate of 5% a year. We have already passed the point of no return for the more modest climate-action scenario where the share of renewables increases by 2% each year." (our emphasis)Facts matter, elections matter. Our lives and our planet matter.
5 comments:
It's gonna be before 2035. Many studies before generally had a caveat at the end that said the rate of acceleration was much more rapid than anticipated. This will be no different. We are in deep shit and it very well may be too late now.
One Fly -- Thanks for that perspective. With Republicans hell bent on embracing fossil fuels to the detriment of renewables, it's looking grim.
From what I've read even if we magically ended all carbon emissions tomorrow global temps would still rise for decades Like One Fly, I believe it may already be too late for a "soft landing" where we stabilize temperatures around 1.5 centigrade.
The silver lining in all this is that once everyone realizes the avoidable truth about climate change and its disastrous affects on civilization, it might force humanity put aside petty difference and work together. Yeah, the idea sounds silly and naive but one can hope.
"Facts matter, elections matter. Our lives and our planet matter."
BUT HER E-MAILSSSSSSS!!!1!
I do hope the Purity Ponies and the Voluntary Non-Voters are happy now.
Note: The INvoluntary non-voters are people who wanted to vote, but were prevented from doing so by Rethuglican or Russian (but I repeat myself) dirty tricks, or other factors beyond their control.
Beach Bum -- Hope you're right on the silver lining.
Ivory Bill -- We have that feeling every day as we see the monster that's in the Oval Office.
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