UN climatologists release alarming report on global warming

The world must halve its greenhouse gas emissions this decade. Earth's "viable future" now depends on it, says new reportThe evidence is clear: the time for action is now. We can halve emissions by 2030. climate group of the United Nations.

To achieve this goal, the world needs to switch to clean energy as quickly as possible, reduce energy consumption and introduce technologies that can capture some of the carbon dioxide that causes heat our planet.

Hundreds of leading climate scientists supported a report outlining the measures needed to avert an all-out climate catastrophe. It boils down to one key call to action: cut greenhouse gas emissions quickly and deeply across all sectors.

The scientists' report is based on studies that show that global warming of more than 1.5 degrees Celsius would be devastating to humans and wildlife around the world. We are alarmingly close to passing this threshold, it could happen as early as 2030, experts say.

The long-term goal is to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century. Only this will keep average global temperatures stable.

The technologies needed to achieve these goals already exist. Costs for solar, wind and renewable energy storage batteries have already fallen by 85% since 2010. A similar price cut for electric vehicles would reduce exhaust pollution.

Ultimately, it is necessary to change the daily behavior of people in order to reduce energy consumption. New measures, initiatives and technologies should motivate people to get around on foot, by bike or by public transport. Investors could contribute to the abandonment of fossil fuels, and ordinary people could simply reduce the level of consumption.

That being said, the climate scientists' report leaves room for further use of fossil fuels if it is combined with carbon capture technologies that clean up emissions. The tactic has already drawn criticism from environmentalists, who are concerned that such easing would cause irreversible damage to the environment anyway.