We have the solutions to limit global warming.
What is needed is the will to effect the change required and to do so in time.

If dangerous climate change is to be avoided global emissions of carbon dioxide must peak by 2015 or before and then decrease to near zero.*76 Emergency global action is required.

To prevent dangerous climate change emergency action is needed to ensure the average temperature of the world rises no higher than 1.5C above pre-industrial temperatures.*77 To have a chance of achieving this global emissions of carbon dioxide must reach their highest level or ´peak´ by 2015 or before, decreasing thereafter to near zero. By 2050 global emissions must be reduced by 80-90% of 1990´s level.*78

This requires a global energy revolution – the rapid transfer from a high carbon to low carbon energy system. It necessitates emergency international action involving a new climate change agreement that enforces bold government policies world-wide supported by adequate finance.

Key measures that should be included in such an emergency plan:

• Global carbon dioxide emissions must ‘peak’ by 2015 or before and then reduce by 80% to 90% below 1990 levels by 2050, decreasing thereafter to near zero*76 developed nations should aim for a near zero carbon economy by 2050 to allow for economic growth in developing nations.


• A high price must be put on carbon.*79


• Projected global energy consumption should be reduced by up to 50% by 2050.


• 50% to 60% of global energy must be procured from renewable energy sources by 2050.


• Emissions from fossil fuel energy sources must be captured and stored.


• No new coal-fired power stations should be built unless emissions are captured and stored.*80


• Deforestation must be curbed.


• Carbon must be drawn down from the atmosphere through improved agriculture and forestry practices.*80


• The commitment made by developed nations´ under the UNFCCC to transfer adequate funds, technology and skills to developing nations must be enforced to the necessary level.

Renewable Energy

The world must transfer from dirty polluting energy sources to clean sources of energy without delay : using the energy that exists within Nature to power our world without destroying it. UN and other studies confirm that renewable energy sources could provide over 50% of global energy by 2050 and all the world´s energy long term.*81 Using the energy of the sun, the wind, the Earth´s inner heat and the oceans.

Decentralise our energy systems

Electricity generation can be decentralised by moving it away from large fossil fuel and nuclear power stations to produce power locally, using renewable energy, and combined heat and power systems that produce electricity and provide heat, hot water and even to meet cooling needs.

In the UK decentralised power could reduce overall energy emissions by at least 15% and by 2050 could supply over eight million homes, one third of today’s estimated 25 million homes.*82

Energy Efficiency

If energy is used more efficiently – less energy is needed so less emissions are produced. Energy efficiency is considered one of the quickest and cheapest of ways of reducing emissions through energy efficient products and buildings, and energy efficiency in transport and industry.

Capture and Store Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Between 21% to 45% of global carbon dioxide emissions could be captured and stored by 2050.*83 - more than all of 2005´s emissions.*84 using a new technology ´capture carbon and storage.

Given China and India’s expanding coal use, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is crucial. 80% to 90% of the carbon dioxide from power stations, industrial sites and refineries could be captured and then stored in old oil or gas wells, coal seams or saline reservoirs.*85

Transfer technology, funds and skills to developing nations

Article 4.5 of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change commits developed countries to facilitate and finance the transfer of low-carbon technologies to developing countries and this must be enforced to the necessary level.

Stop Deforestation

Deforestation accounts for almost 20% of global carbon dioxide emissions.*86 Hence if deforestation can be curbed significant emissions reductions could be achieved and quickly. Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries, or REDD, is the proposal to include forest conservation in the new global treaty. Forest conservation units could be traded on the global carbon markets or compensation given directly to prevent deforestation. Compensation for the eight countries responsible for 70% of deforestation emissions is estimated at US$5 billion a year.*87 Just US$0.5 billion per annum from each of the G8 countries plus Brazil and China, could contribute to significant emissions reductions.

Improve agricultural and forestry practices

Carbon dioxide can be ´drawn down´ out of the atmosphere and existing stores of carbon can also be sustained through the use of improved agricultural and forestry practices. *88 By preventing deforestation and loss of grasslands, by reforesting and re-vegetating deforested and degraded land, by reducing tilling of soils, using high-carbon absorbing cropping systems, by avoiding inorganic fertilisers and by embracing climate-friendly livestock production emissions reductions can be achieved.

Funds to meet the scale of the crisis

Funds must be applied to meet the scale of the crisis we face if we are to protect our planet, its peoples, its ecosystems and species. If we leave it too late all the money in the world will be of no use in preventing spiralling and worsening climatic disaster. The cost of taking strong action now is considered to be only 2% per annum of world GDP.*89 If nations commit 1% of public revenues, rising to 2% of GDP, low-carbon energy projects can be co-financed with the private sector.

There are only a very few years now within which global emissions must reach their highestlevel or peak and then start to fall if dangerous climate change is to be avoided. As a global community we must bring about change before it is too late.

For the sake of our children, for the sake of the most vulnerable, for the sake of the Earth. Your help is needed.