Action, here and now!

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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published last month in Interlaken a Synthesis Report on its 6th cycle (2015-2023), which summarizes the main findings of reports published over the past eight years. I participated in the writing of two reports. They unmistakably show how urgently and decisively we need to take action against human-caused climate change, but they also provide some hopeful signs: Solutions for the energy transition do exist.

The illustration in the summary of the report shows how our decisions today will affect global warming in the coming decades, as well as the consequences for a child born in 2020. We should keep this in mind when thinking about buying a gas car or deciding not to replace oil heating: we are already feeling many of the dramatic effects of climate change, such as the drought that hit all of Europe last summer and another drought this spring. But it is the children born today who will face the most tragic consequences of our emissions.

Another key presentation in the report shows the discrepancy between the release paths. Measures currently being taken around the world result in global warming of about 3.2 degrees. Stabilization at 1.5 or 2 degrees of global warming will require other emission pathways. We are clearly not on track to limit global warming to 1.5 (or even 2) degrees. We need to put in a lot more effort, and the first major step is to cut CO2 in half.₂emissions by 2030.

The IPCC predicts what will happen if we don’t: “Delayed mitigation and adaptation measures will lock down high-emission infrastructure, increase the risks of abandoned assets and rising costs, reduce viability, and increase loss and damage.” Thus, we must act immediately and decisively if we are to bring the climate crisis under control.

But the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change also has encouraging news: there are now many solutions to decarbonize society, for example in the field of energy supply. Options per tonne of CO₂ and costing $100 or less per year could cut global emissions to at least half of 2019 levels by 2030. For domestic greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland, which are in the order of 5 tons of CO₂-equivalent per person per year, this would mean spending a maximum of about 450 francs per person per year. In comparison, Switzerland gave UBS a CHF109 billion guarantee to buy Credit Suisse, which means more than CHF12,000 per person if they have to pay.

The conclusions are clear: 1) yes, we have a climate crisis and urgent action is needed, but 2) there are solutions, but costs are falling all the time. For all these reasons, it is hoped that the Swiss will vote for a climate law in June, backed by a broad left-to-right cross-party coalition. This would be a significant contribution to climate stabilization on our planet and a sign of hope for younger generations.

Source: Blick