The scientific facts and evidence have been shown.
Earth is heating up at a pace faster than humans have ever seen before and if we don’t act quickly – we are on a fast track to making this planet uninhabitable for many species including humans.
The Science
The IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) released a special report in 2018 that is not getting the attention it deserves. The report finds that limiting global warming to 1.5°C (currently over 1C) would require “rapid and far-reaching” transitions in land, energy, industry, buildings, transport, and cities.
If we go over 1.5C above pre industrial levels, it is believed that we will pass a point of no return. It’s unclear what will happen if we pass that tipping point. One thing that is for sure, is that the sixth mass extinction of species on earth, which is currently underway, will continue to worsen.
To limit warming to 1.5C global net human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) would need to fall by about 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030, reaching ‘net zero’ around 2050. That means global human emissions need to be reduced by nearly half, within 11 years!
And, just to make sure this information really sinks in…
Let me reiterate…
In 2018 the IPCC issued a special report on the impacts that global warming of 1.5°C would have on the environment. The findings showed that warming of 1.5°C would be CATASTROPHIC and that limiting warming to 1.5°C would require rapid, far-reaching and extreme changes in ALL aspects of society.
Now how do we do that?
In September 2019, Secretary-General of the UN, António Guterres will convene a Climate Summit to bring world leaders of governments, the private sector and civil society together to support the multilateral process and to increase and accelerate climate action and ambition.
Drawdown
It’s time to Drawdown. “Drawdown is the point in the future when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and then start to steadily decline, ultimately reversing global warming.” Project Drawdown is the worlds leading source of climate solutions and one of our greatest hopes.
James Hansen, the former Nasa scientist who helped raised the alarm about climate change, said both 1.5C and 2C would take humanity into uncharted and dangerous territory. He also said there was a huge difference between the two: “1.5C gives young people and the next generation a fighting chance.” At the current level of commitments, the world is on course for a disastrous 3C of warming. To see what happens at 3C watch this.
What does it all mean?
- The inundation of coastal cities
- Increasing risks for food production potentially leading to higher malnutrition rates; many dry regions becoming dryer and wet regions wetter;
- Unprecedented heat waves in many regions, especially in the tropics;
- Substantially exacerbated water scarcity in many regions;
- Increased frequency of high-intensity tropical cyclones;
- Irreversible loss of biodiversity, including coral reef systems.
I know that all sounds very scary and I’m sure you’re eager to know what you can do to help preserve this beautiful planet which we’re so lucky to call home so…
Here is what you can do:
- Educate yourself about the current issues we are facing as a species.
- Write letters to, and visit your local council or government.
- Support local community groups.
- Shop Locally.
- Consider eating less meat & dairy.
- Ride your bike or walk when you can.
- Vote with your dollar.
- Refuse, Reduce, Recycle, Reuse & Regenerate
- Carry Reusables – A Keep Cup, tote bags, a reusable water bottle and a reusable straw are the basics.
- Try not to be wasteful
- Use renewable energy if you can.
- Help others to do the same thing.
- Spread the word.
I saw a legend called Sarah Wilson speak on a panel recently at the Bucket List in Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia. and she said something that really hit home for me:
“It’s time for us to “Fire the FUCK up!”
And coupled with this information from an article in Forbes:
“Recovery is all but impossible,” he [James Anderson] argued, without a World War II-style transformation of industry—an acceleration of the effort to halt carbon pollution and remove it from the atmosphere, and a new effort to reflect sunlight away from the earth’s poles.
This has to be done, Anderson added, “within the next five years.”
So we agree Sarah – It’s time to FIRE the FUCK UP!
Want to read more?
Start here and let’s all fire the fuck up together :
“An Optimists Guide To Solving Climate Change And Saving The World”.