As the planet keeps on heating up, any global temperature beyond a warming of 2°C would be catastrophic.
“However, a low-carbon pandemic recovery could cut 25 per cent off the greenhouse emissions expected in 2030, based on policies in place before COVID-19,” it adds. “Such a recovery would far outstrip savings foreseen with the implementation of unconditional Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement, and put the world close to the 2°C pathway.”
Over the past two centuries since industrialization was first kicked into high gear global temperatures have risen by around 1°C. Even such a relatively minor increase has been having a marked environmental impact with more frequent forest fires, increased ocean acidification and other natural phenomena that place entire ecosystems at risk, experts say.
Further warming could deal cataclysmic harm around much of the planet. Encouragingly, however, nationwide lockdowns around the planet this year because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic have shown us a way forward. This year year we saw a reduction of around 7% in emissions worldwide owing to reduced economic activities such as less travel and industrial activity during months-long lockdowns.
Such lockdowns are temporary measures, though, and by next year our emissions are likely to shoot up again. Yet, according to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the rate of emission reductions we experienced in 2020 should be a permanent feature of life if we are to ensure that planetary warming stays within manageable limits.
Specifically, global emissions should fall 7.6% each year until 2030 to keep warming at around 1.5°C by 2100. For that to happen, our dependence on fossil fuels like oil and coal must be reduced by 6% annually, UNEP says.
This story first appeared on Sustainability Times
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