Six Critical Steps to Mitigate The Climate Crisis
With few exceptions, we are largely failing to address this predicament. The climate crisis has arrived and is accelerating faster than many scientists expected. It is more severe than anticipated, threatening natural ecosystems and the fate of humanity.
To secure a sustainable future, we must change how we live, in ways
that improve the vital signs summarized by our graphs. Economic and
population growth are among the most important drivers of increases in
CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion; therefore, we need
bold and drastic transformations regarding economic and population
policies. We suggest six critical and interrelated steps (in no
particular order) that governments, businesses, and the rest of humanity
can take to lessen the worst effects of climate change. These are
important steps but are not the only actions needed or possible.
Scientists’ Warning Foundation in cooperation with the Alliance of World Scientists suggest six critical and interrelated steps that governments and the rest of humanity can take to lessen the worst effects of climate change, covering:
Further, A short video discussion by the AWS thought leaders on the six steps is now available (see below).
Mitigating and adapting to climate change entails transformations in the ways we govern, manage, feed, and fulfill material and energy requirements. We are encouraged by a recent global surge of concern. Governmental bodies are making climate emergency declarations. The Pope issued an encyclical on climate change. Schoolchildren are striking.
Ecocide lawsuits are proceeding in the courts. Grassroots citizen movements are demanding change. As scientists, we urge widespread use of our vital signs and anticipate that graphical indicators will better allow policymakers and the public to understand the magnitude of this crisis, track progress, and realign priorities to alleviate climate change. The good news is that such transformative change, with social and ecological justice, promises greater human well being in the long-run than business as usual. We believe that prospects will be greatest if policy makers and the rest of humanity promptly respond to our warning and declaration of a climate emergency, and act to sustain life on planet Earth, our only home.
The full paper is free to read here: academic.oup.com/…
Additional papers from AWS: scientistswarning.forestry.oregonstate.edu/…