In the past few days 11,000 scientists from around the world have signed a blunt warning on the anniversary of the 1979 Climate Conference in Geneva.
“We declare clearly and unequivocally that planet Earth is facing a climate emergency,” they state. “To secure a sustainable future, we must change how we live. [This] entails major transformations in the ways our global society functions and interacts with natural ecosystems.”
Time is of the essence, the scientists say: “The climate crisis has arrived and is accelerating faster than most scientists expected. It is more severe than anticipated, threatening natural ecosystems and the fate of humanity.”
Meanwhile Venice and parts of England have endured unprecedented flooding whilst wildfires rage in Australia. Gone are the days when debates also raged as to whether climate change was real or if fossil fuels were a contributory factor.
The warmer the atmosphere the more moisture is held in the air and so as temperatures increase extreme rainfall events will become more common. Human exposure to fires has doubled since 2000, according to the Lancet.
“When coupled to warmer, wetter winters generally, as expected from climate change, the ground becomes more saturated so any rainfall will give a greater chance of flooding.” explained Prof Piers Forster from the University of Leeds, to the BBC.
All this can get pretty overwhelming and it’s important to focus on the positive steps being taken around the world along with the huge opportunities renewables present.
This week the European Investment Bank, the world’s largest multilateral financial institution, has announced it will cease to finance fossil fuel projects as of 2021 and instead direct investment towards a sustainable future.
This follows the recent decision by the UK government to cease fracking in England (at least for the time being, Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom said it may be temporary – imposed “until and unless” extraction is proved safe). Each of the parties have put forward their environmental pledges ahead of the forthcoming election responding to increased pressure from the public.
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If you’re in need of some positive news take a look at Happy Eco News and our Reasons to be Optimistic.
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