What is it about?
Almost every country in the world has signed up to ‘the Paris Agreement’, a 2015 commitment to making sure that global temperatures do not rise more than 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels. The main thing we need to do to achieve this is to reduce our emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. Countries have agreed to become ‘carbon neutral’, on various timescales, but certainly by 2050. The United States is one of the countries that emits the most greenhouse gases. A strong plan is needed to reach carbon-zero. In this study, scientists analysed the United States' energy and industrial system. The came up with eight ways the United States can become carbon neutral by 2050. Their ideas include: • Using energy more efficiently • New energy sources, such as wind and solar power • Switching to electric vehicles and technologies • Using ‘carbon capture’ to stop so much carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere.
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Why is it important?
KEY TAKEAWAY: Scientists have shown it is possible for the United States to cut its carbon emissions to zero – and this can be done at a cost of just $1 per person per day. Here’s the plan – now let’s put it into action.
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Carbon‐Neutral Pathways for the United States, AGU Advances, January 2021, American Geophysical Union (AGU),
DOI: 10.1029/2020av000284.
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What are the recommendations for governments from the latest climate research?
The more carbon dioxide there is in our atmosphere, the faster the earth heats up. This causes environmental changes that can be bad for human health. Carbon dioxide emissions are increasing, and nature’s own solutions are becoming less effective. We must invest more heavily in reducing carbon emissions, and design better laws and business models to encourage this.
How global warming in industrial areas spreads to developing countries
Industrial countries are causing global warming. Their high emissions raise temperatures locally. The high levels of carbon dioxide are then moved around in the atmosphere so that less developed areas suffer too.
What if our response to climate change was more like our response to COVID-19?
Both climate change and COVID-19 represent a growing trend: threats that affect everyone around the world, and where both the causes and the solutions a complex mix of political, economic, social and technological factors. These kinds of threats need strong governance at international, national and local levels. In the case of COVID-19, governments acted relatively quickly and firmly. This same kind of leadership is needed in tackling the challenges of climate change.
Global Warming and the ‘Polarized’ North-South Debate
The North–South divide makes it harder to work together to tackle climate change. All countries need to feel they are equally represented, and that goals are fair for all, if we are to make progress together.
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