Documents Levin, Kelly 7 results

"To keep the window open to limit global warming to 1.5 C, countries need to accelerate transformation towards a net-zero emissions future across all sectors at a far faster pace than recent trends, according to this report from World Resources Institute and ClimateWorks Foundation, with input from Climate Action Tracker.

For example, the report finds that to get on track for the emission cuts required by 2030, the world needs to:

Accelerate the increased share of renewables in electricity generation five times faster;
Phase out coal in electricity generation five times faster;
Reduce the carbon intensity of electricity generation three times faster;
Accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles 22 times faster than the significant rates of adoption in recent years;
Accelerate the increase in the share of low-carbon fuels by eight times faster; and
Accelerate the increase in annual tree cover gain five times faster.
The rapid transformation needed to halve emissions by 2030 will require significant financial investments, technology transfer and capacity-building for developing countries. While climate finance has increased significantly in recent years across the public, private and philanthropic sectors, it is still not at the scale needed to revolutionize our energy and transportation systems, accelerate energy efficiency and protect forests. Estimates indicate that between $1.6 and $3.8 trillion per year will be needed through 2050 to transform the energy system alone.

Experience has shown that transformative change can happen at an exponential, non-linear rate. Systemic changes that once seemed impossible have ultimately been achieved, such as technological advances with cars, phones and computers. A rapid transition to a zero-carbon future offers the same opportunity — but only with smart and proactive investments in key sectors.

The report outlines opportunities within all six sectors to align emissions trajectories with what the science suggests is necessary to avoid the worst climate impacts. Countries, businesses, philanthropy and others must urgently put in place policies, incentives and financial investments to accelerate us toward that safer, prosperous and more equitable future."

"Headlines related to recent extreme weather appear to come out of a science fiction book: Even the richest countries in the world can't control widespread fires — they're even burning in the Arctic. Deadly flooding in Germany and Belgium in July 2021 completely washed away buildings and cars, and more than 1,000 people remain missing. Hundreds died in flooding in China. The U.S. Pacific Northwest, known for its cool climate, hit over 100 degrees F for several days. And the Arctic lost an area of sea ice equivalent to the size of Florida between June and mid-July 2021.

These changes are happening with average warming of just 1.1 degrees C (1.98 degrees F) over pre-industrial levels. The newest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), world's most authoritative body on climate science, finds that this is just a taste of what's to come.

The IPCC Working Group I sixth assessment report shows that the world will probably reach or exceed 1.5 degrees C (2.7 degrees F) of warming within just the next two decades. Whether we limit warming to this level and prevent the most severe climate impacts depends on actions taken this decade.

Only with ambitious emissions cuts can the world keep global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees C, the limit scientists say is necessary for preventing the worst climate impacts. Under a high-emissions scenario, the IPCC finds the world may warm by up to 5.7 degrees C (10.3 degrees F) by 2100 — with catastrophic results.

Of course, every fraction of a degree of warming comes with more dangerous and costly consequences. In just a decade's time, we'll be looking back on today's apocalyptic headlines thinking how stable things were back in 2021..."

"Earlier this year, in partnership with IPSOS Mori we polled the general public across all G20 countries to find out what they think about the state of the global commons and the transformations we urgently need to make to protect them. The results provide the most granular set of insights into how the public is thinking on these issues ever gathered.

We're especially honoured that Elizabeth Wathuti, a passionate climate & environmental activist from Kenya, founder of Green Generation Initiative and head of campaigns at Wangari Maathai Foundation, wrote the forward for the report.

A few key findings stand out:

73% of people in G20 countries believe Earth is approaching potentially abrupt or irreversible tipping points because of human action.
58% are extremely or very worried about the state of the global commons.
83% are willing to do more to become better “planetary stewards” and protect and regenerate the global commons. People in developing economies showed greater willingness to do more to protect nature and climate than those in advanced economies: Indonesia (95%), South Africa (94%), China (93%) compared with Japan (61%), Germany (70%), and the United States (74%).
73% agree their country's economy should move beyond a singular focus on profit and economic growth (GDP) and focus more on human wellbeing and ecological protection and regeneration.
69% of people believe the benefits of action to protect the global commons outweigh the costs.
59% acknowledge a very rapid energy transition is needed in the next decade.
But just 8% acknowledge the need for broader economic changes in the next decade.
71% agree the pandemic recovery is a unique moment to build societies more resilient to future shocks.
These results should be a wake up call for leaders. We have here all the information we need to see that most people want to and are ready to make changes that will keep our global commons and each other safe. But they need help understanding how to do this, and help in understanding the benefits of taking action now.

Much more work needs to be done to communicate the importance of our global commons and their role in ensuring a safe and just corridor for humanity.

Find all Global Commons Survey data here: https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/global-commons-survey-attitudes-transformation-and-planetary-stewardship."

"Limiting global warming to 1.5°C requires far-reaching transformations across power generation, buildings, industry, transport, land use, coastal zone management, and agriculture, as well as the immediate scale-up of technological carbon removal and climate finance. This report translates these transitions into 40 targets for 2030 and 2050, with measurable indicators.
Transformations, particularly those driven by new technology adoption, often unfold slowly before accelerating after crossing a tipping point. Nearly a quarter of indicators assessed new technology adoption, with some already growing exponentially. This report considers such nonlinear change in its methodology.
This report also identifies underlying conditions that enable change -supportive policies, innovations, strong institutions, leadership, and shifts in social norms. Finance for climate action, for example, must increase nearly 13-fold to meet the estimated need in 2030."