2020 is our last chance to avert climate catastrophe, says energy chief

[marmar]

2020 is our last chance to avert climate catastrophe, says energy chief
The International Energy Agency releases its Sustainable Recovery Plan and says governments have a 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' to reduce global emissions

Louise Boyle
2 days ago


(Independent UK) Time is running out and the world has a matter of months to avert climate catastrophe, according to the International Energy Agency Chief.

Dr Fatih Birol, IEA executive director, on Thursday announced the agency’s new sustainable recovery plan, a three-year roadmap for governments to repair their pandemic-ravaged economies, create millions of jobs and “make 2019 the definitive peak in global emissions”.

“This year is the last time we have, if we are not to see a carbon rebound,” said IEA executive director, Dr Birol, told The Guardian.

At a press conference, the energy chief said IEA had been determined to have the report ready this month as economies begin to kick-start from the Covid-19 crisis. It is estimated that governments plan to spend $9 trillion globally in economic recovery packages.

Dr Birol said that governments were facing “hugely consequential decisions” and the right energy policies would be crucial for emissions to permanently decline, and achieve net-zero emissions in 2050. .................(more)

https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/energy-oil-gas-climate-change-carbon-emissions-crisis-iea-a9573516.html

[beachbumbob]

1. climate change is fueling itself now and little can be done except slowdown the impending outcome

[Bayard]

2. So discouraging

Our hopes, once again, reside in Joe Biden doing the right thing.

[Boomer]

5. Biden can't stop this

It's much easier for Trump to make things worse than it will be for any US president to make things better. The kind of draconian actions needed to even slow down climate change would result in a citizen uprising. We can't even get people to wear masks, there's no way they would willingly undergo true deprivation to substantially reduce emissions.

And then there's the rest of the world....

[SamKnause]

3. It is too late to stop climate change.

The feed back loops have been set in motion.

There is no way to stop them.

To pretend otherwise is dishonest.

[Delphinus]

6. And,

with that in mind, how do we live the rest of our lives?

[Calculating]

4. It's definitely too late

All we can do now is deal with the consequences as well as we can. Even if we cut CO2 output in half within 5 years(an impossible goal already) it wouldn't be enough.