“ACTION MUST BE TAKEN”

Falling Short on Climate Change; The U.N.’s report emphasizes threats worth more attention—and action

November 7, 2014 (The Harvard Crimson)

“…[The latest United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Synthesis Report—published in Copenhagen on Nov. 2—conveys alarm and urgency…[It reports that] the status quo could lead to ‘severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems’ …[and] emphasizes some of the far-reaching consequences of climate change, particularly the potential flooding of coastal cities and increased hunger and poverty…[C]limate change is increasingly becoming not only an environmental issue, but also a geopolitical issue, posing a threat to international order akin to chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons; the international community would do well to treat climate change with the necessary degree of seriousness and make a more concerted effort at solving this problem…

“[S]pending has remained robust in the other direction. Fossil fuel energy companies currently invest $600 billion each year simply to find more sources of coal, petroleum, and natural gas, whereas research to reduce with energy emissions receives less than $400 billion annually. These priorities must be reversed: Funding must be increased to develop economically sound strategies for the reduction of fuel emissions. Possibilities include new, more efficient means of generating energy, as well as more sophisticated methods for carbon capture…[R]egardless of the solutions chosen, action must be taken. The implications of climate change shown in the report are drastic, and…[could become a frightening reality.” click here for more

click to enlarge

Tweet