It is more urgent than ever to immediately and “drastically” reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. To achieve this, we will have to turn our backs on fossil fuels, but also profoundly transform our cities, our modes of transport and our diet, concludes the new report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
“Without an immediate and drastic reduction in emissions in all sectors, limiting global warming to 1.5°C is out of reach”, summarized IPCC President Hoesung Lee on Monday, presenting the new report devoted to the means of tackling the climate crisis. In concrete terms, global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions would have to be halved by 2030 to hope to meet the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement.
” We are at the crossroads. The decisions we make now can ensure a viable future. We have the tools and the knowledge to limit global warming,” he added, after a difficult negotiating session for the 195 member governments of the IPCC, which took just over two weeks to approve the content. of the document.
Fossil fuels
This new report thus highlights the need to implement “major transformations in the energy sector. This will involve a substantial reduction in the use of fossil fuels, large-scale electrification, improved energy efficiency and the use of alternative fuels, such as hydrogen”.
Unless we can count on effective projects to reduce GHG emissions in industry (such as the development of carbon capture and storage technology), we must eliminate the use of coal by 2050, but also reduce our use of petroleum by at least 60% and our use of natural gas by 70%.
In this context, underlines the IPCC, new industrial development infrastructures risk imposing GHG emissions on us that should be avoided. In a report published last year, the International Energy Agency already stressed the need to abandon all new fossil fuel exploitation projects.
However, the transformation of the energy landscape will require unprecedented investments. However, at present, “public and private funding for fossil fuels is always greater than that devoted to adaptation and mitigation”.
Change of lifestyle
The report published on Monday also notes the need for “changes in our lifestyles” in order to combat climate change. This involves the development of cities, which must imperatively make it possible to “reduce the consumption of energy” and resources. Cities adapted to our climate objectives presuppose allowing travel by public transport, but also on foot or by bicycle.
The IPCC also points out that “networks of parks, wetlands and urban agriculture can reduce the risk of flooding and heat islands”.
The report also stresses more generally the need to restore forests and other ecosystems (coastal wetlands, grasslands, peat bogs, savannahs) in order to improve the natural structures that store carbon. Reducing deforestation in tropical regions is also essential.
Scientists also highlight the need to transform our diet, which still includes a significant intake of animal products. The “Summary for Policymakers” produced by the IPCC thus underlines the need for a change towards a “healthy diet”, i.e. a diet comprising “plant-based” foods and animal origin, but produced in a “sustainable” context and with low GHG emissions.
“Climate change is the result of more than a century of unsustainable energy and land use, lifestyles, and consumption and production patterns,” warns Jim Skea, Group Vice President of work of the IPCC which wrote this report. “The report shows us how acting now can lead us to a fairer and more sustainable world. »
Critical years
For the moment, however, the world is still on a dangerous climate trajectory, recalls the IPCC report, which was written by 278 authors from 65 countries, in addition to 354 contributors. ” It’s now or never. If we want you to limit warming to 1.5°C. Without immediate action and drastic reductions in all sectors, this will be impossible”, summarizes Jim Skea.
“Emissions are still on the rise. They are at their highest level ever,” argued a co-author of the report, Céline Guivarch, during a presentation on Monday morning. “The world is not on the right trajectory to limit global warming and avoid its most serious effects. Only immediate and ambitious measures in all sectors can rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. »
“I am encouraged by the climate action being implemented in several countries. There are policies, regulations and market instruments that demonstrate their effectiveness. If enhanced and applied more broadly and equitably, they can lead to major emissions reductions and spur innovation,” said Hoesung Lee.
More details will follow.