So global emissions are still rising every year. And just this week, with the launch of the UN’s assessment of the global climate in 2019, the UN secretary-general António Guterres said: “We are currently way off track to meeting either the 1.5☌ or 2☌ targets that the Paris agreement calls for.” And it doesn’t account for other sectors, nor does it account for other greenhouse gases. But that means emissions are still growing. We can get greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to stop climbing and start declining by mid-century if we manage to scale the solutions that we already have.Īpparently, last year, global energy-related carbon emissions flatlined for the first time in ten years. But making the case for these big claims isn’t that simple, so let’s take a look at the report’s key insights.ġ. Almost daily, there is promising evolution and acceleration of climate solutions, alongside growing efforts to sunset fossil fuel infrastructure and prevent expansion of these antiquated and dangerous energy sources.” Yet many of the means to achieve the necessary transformation already exist. “At present, global efforts come nowhere near the scale, speed, or scope required. The short answer is written in the foreword of its new report. Project Drawdown’s research centres around what that would look like.

The IPCC calls for “rapid and far-reaching transitions in energy, land, urban and infrastructure (including transport and buildings), and industrial systems.” We’re looking at unprecedented changes in all aspects of society. “Science has made clear the wholesale transformation needed to address the climate crisis”, Project Drawdown’s new report writes in its foreword. Or rather, not get there? (There, as in a world 1.5☌ warmer.) As it turned out, “every fraction of a degree of warming has grave consequences.” So the IPCC was tasked to answer the question: should we be aiming for 1.5☌? The answer, obviously, was yes. At the time, however, many countries (especially those most vulnerable to rising seas) were concerned that 2☌ was too dangerous. In 2015, the Paris agreement used this as a marker for setting targets. We thought that it would be enough to avoid climate catastrophe. Context: for years, we were concerned with keeping it below 2☌. We need to limit global warming to 1.5☌, not 2☌. The brainchild of 91 highly credentialed volunteer scientists from 40 countries, the Special Report synthesised the latest climate research (we’re talking over 6,000 scientific studies) to confirm one thing. Project Drawdown’s work puts the warning from the 2018 UN IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5☌ front and centre. If you didn’t know, the UN IPCC stands for the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and the 2018 Special Report is the definitive report specifically used to inform global policymakers. It asks the question on all our minds: can we avoid widespread climate catastrophe? Short answer: a better path is still possible. A new report from nonprofit organisation Project Drawdown presents an up-to-date, realistic and comprehensive look at the climate solutions we have in our hands. 'Paul Hawken on One Hundred Solutions to the Climate Crisis'.'This book ranks the top 100 solutions to climate change. 'How Much Do You Know About Solving Global Warming?'. Drawdown: The most comprehensive plan ever proposed to reverse global warming.

Project drawdown