World 'needs radical cuts' on CO2
By Tanya Syed
BBC News
Renewable technologies could help arrest climate change
More carbon dioxide needs to be absorbed than emitted by 2050 in order to prevent catastrophic climate change.
That is the conclusion of a report by the Worldwatch Institute which urges bigger cuts in greenhouse emissions.
The authors say that even a rise in temperatures of 2 degrees C poses unacceptable risks to natural systems.
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Global greenhouse gas emissions need to peak before 2020 and decrease drastically until 2050, the report says.
More CO2 will have to be absorbed than emitted in the second half of this century.
The report outlines 10 key challenges that must be adopted to avoid catastrophic climate change.
These include long-term planning, global co-operation and innovative solutions such as improved building design incorporating a variety of efficiency measures.
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But they add that it is still possible to arrest and manage climate change with renewable technologies and more efficient ways of living.
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But does there have to be emissions? What if there were no emissions to cut?
For the answers to those questions, please see www.campaignforgreen.com.
Showing posts with label global carbon emissions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label global carbon emissions. Show all posts
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Why Green Energy? . . . first in a series
Last summer, world leaders chose to focus on reducing carbon emissions to more than 80% for the G8 countries and encouraged developing countries to work toward 25-40% emissions below 1990 levels by the year 2020 (BBC News 2008/07/08 12:35 GMT).
On 12 December, European Union leaders discussed a 20% carbon emissions reduction by 2020, rather than the 25-40% scientists deem necessary (BBC News 1008/12/12).
The goals themselves reduced between July and December.
But carbon emissions don't. And neither do greenhouse gases.
In 2007, global carbon dioxide emissions increased by 3.1% (www.mnp.nl). Between 1970 and 2007, global greenhouse gases rose 75% (www.mnp.nl). In the United States alone, power plant greenhouse gas emissions had their "biggest single year increase" in 2007 (www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2008/2008-03-18-04.asp).
Why not raise the bar for higher reduction goals? And set the deadline sooner? But there's something much better: total elimination of carbon dioxide emissions and greenhouse gases.
It can be done. See www.campaignforgreen.com.
On 12 December, European Union leaders discussed a 20% carbon emissions reduction by 2020, rather than the 25-40% scientists deem necessary (BBC News 1008/12/12).
The goals themselves reduced between July and December.
But carbon emissions don't. And neither do greenhouse gases.
In 2007, global carbon dioxide emissions increased by 3.1% (www.mnp.nl). Between 1970 and 2007, global greenhouse gases rose 75% (www.mnp.nl). In the United States alone, power plant greenhouse gas emissions had their "biggest single year increase" in 2007 (www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2008/2008-03-18-04.asp).
Why not raise the bar for higher reduction goals? And set the deadline sooner? But there's something much better: total elimination of carbon dioxide emissions and greenhouse gases.
It can be done. See www.campaignforgreen.com.
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