There is much coverage in the media of the forthcoming Conference Of Parties, (COP 26). To understand why this event is so important it is worth taking a couple of moments to consider some of the concerns relating to global warming.
We know that climate change is caused by green house gas emissions and that continued emissions, particularly CO2, will have devastating consequences for humanity and life on the planet. This means that we have to make significant reductions in CO2 emissions; We need to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030 and be “net-zero” by 2050 at the very latest. Ideally by 2040.
We are already seeing significant changes in global weather patterns. The ice caps are melting, (reducing the reflection of heat from the sun). Permafrost is melting, (causing the release of methane – a greenhouse gas more damaging than CO2). The oceans are warming, (causing a decline in organisms such as phytoplankton, responsible for absorbing c.40% of atmospheric CO2).
Climate change is triggering feedback loops, causing further global warming. The concern of the scientific community is that these feedback loops are increasing as global temperatures rise. The biggest threat to our survival on the planet is that we reach a point where these feedback loops become irreversible and human intervention will no longer be able to prevent run-away global warming. This is the ‘tipping point’. Projections by climate scientists suggest that we might reach the tipping point within the next two or three decades. Some projections indicate that the date could be much sooner.
What does this all mean? Well, the key message is that we have to stop releasing CO2 into the atmosphere. Unless international leaders agree radical action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions dramatically in less than 10 years, then we risk a situation where human intervention will no longer be able to prevent a climate catastrophe. Unfortunately, the Conference of Parties has been meeting for over 25 years and we have not yet achieved the agreements that are needed. Previously, the economy has been given higher priority than the environment. Hopefully, this year will be different. Without an environment we don’t have an economy.