This blog may help people explore some of the 'hidden' issues involved in certain media treatments of environmental and scientific issues. Using personal digital images, it's also intended to emphasise seasonal (and other) changes in natural history of the Swansea (South Wales) area. The material should help participants in field-based modules and people generally interested in the natural world. The views are wholly those of the author.
Friday, 5 November 2021
Countering Climate Change is Nobbled by the Nobs?
Scientists have calculated that achieving global heating of no more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, requires every person on the planet to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions, by 2030, to circa 2.3 tonnes per year. The current average is double that value. This sounds, on paper, to be an attainable target. Unfortunately, it's not as easy (or fair) as that (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/05/carbon-top-1-percent-could-jeopardise-1point5c-global-heating-limit). The richest 1% on this planet (about 79m people), are on track to annually release 70 tonnes of carbon dioxide per person. By 2030, this small group will be releasing 16% of all planetary emissions. In contrast, the poorest 50% (about 3.95 bn people) annually release 1 tonne of carbon dioxide per person. The richest 1% are evidently a serious problem. For example, an 11 minute space tourism flight, generates at least 75 tonnes of carbon dioxide. This exceeds the lifetime 'greenhouse gas' emissions by one of the poorest 50%! 'Luxury carbon consumption' by the richest 79m is 30 times greater than what is needed to limit global heating to 1.5C. Regulators need to think seriously about private jets, frequent flying, fast cars, megayachts and space tourism. Some of the worst offenders actually attended the Cop26 meeting in Glasgow.
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