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The world has the means to fight climate change - the latest report from IPPC
May 8, 2007
The world has the means to fight climate change - the latest report from IPPC
"The world has the technological and financial means to fight climate change, but must act now to make a difference" - this is the conclusion of the latest report from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), launched in Bangkok, Thailand on the 4 May.
The report proposes multiple strategies to prevent the potentially catastrophic consequences of climate change at a reasonable cost. The report states that greenhouse gas emissions must start declining by 2015 if the increase in global average temperature is to be capped at 2?2.4 degrees Celsius. It says that stable emission levels of 445?535 parts per million (ppm) can be achieved with just a three per cent reduction in global gross domestic product (GDP) over the next 25 years, or less than 0.12 per cent annually. In the long term, 2050 onward, stabilising emissions between 445?710 ppm would require a reduction of 5.5 per cent in the world’s GDP.
Bert Metz, co-chairman of the IPCC’s Mitigation Working Group, who produced the report said “We are talking about the reduction of the world’s GDP, but there will be benefits. In addition to climate change mitigation such as health benefits from reducing air pollution, improvement of energy security”. The report recommends several measures, such as switching to renewable energy and bio-fuels, taxing fossil fuels, incentives for improving the energy efficiency of transportation, buildings and industry, as well as changes to agricultural and forestry practices.
For further details, visit SciDev Net
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