Climate crisis: IPCC calls for immediate action
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has issued an urgent call for immediate and comprehensive action on climate change in its latest report. The pace and scale of action to date, as well as current plans, are insufficient, says the report, which summarises previous findings. The consequences in the form of heat waves, floods and droughts are already being felt, it stresses. What concrete action needs to be taken now?
The money and technology are available
Humanity only has a chance if the industrialised states finally take serious action, warns The Guardian:
“The UN secretary-general, António Guterres, spelled out what this means: an end to new fossil fuel exploration and rich countries exiting coal, oil and gas by 2040. The UK, which is opening coalmines and approving North Sea oil and gas licences, should take note. ... The rich world has the money and the technological prowess to stop the planet from burning up. ... The IPCC estimates that investment in climate mitigation and adaptation is three to six times lower than where it needs to be to reach the goal of limiting temperature rises to 1.5C.”
Help the poor countries
Global solidarity is needed now, Berlingske admonishes:
“Let's put realistic plans on the table - and also plans and commitments to reduce emissions that go beyond our own borders. It's time for the world's richest countries to make a serious commitment to invest in reducing CO2 emissions in developing countries. It's not enough for us to play the saint with a Danish CO2 balance that currently accounts for about 0.1 percent of the global climate footprint.”
In conflict with other important goals
The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is overstepping its remit, says Die Welt:
“What political consequences humanity should draw from the climate report is actually a matter for political deliberation. But encouraged by the special status of the topic of climate change, the UN Climate Council now apparently sees itself as a political agent. ... The energy crisis has shown that the demanded 'urgent' transformation in global energy sources conflicts with other human goals, such as the fight against hunger and poverty. ... Climate researchers cannot weigh up the conflicting goals of humanity.”