The latest IPCC report is frighteningly clear: without urgent action,the world could lose entire countries to climate change due to rising sea levels,deadly flooding and widespread fires from extreme temperatures. The world is already moving in this direction,as severe floods and fires are happening more frequently with a current average warming of just 1.1 degrees C. If countries achieve their pre COP26 climate plans,known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs),warming will only be limited to 2.4 degrees C by 2100. This is well past the 1.5 degrees C threshold necessary to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. At the same time,the world needs enough resources to provide for 10 billion people by 2050. Current resource consumption patterns will not sustainably provide these resources and will substantially increase emissions. A fundamental shift in the global approach to climate change is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,stay on a 1.5 degrees C pathway in line with the Paris Agreement and support the world's population. The world faces a critical opportunity to enable this shift,as the global community can make climate commitments and offer systemic strategies which tackle all emission sources.
Back to top