Over 11,000 scientists have signed a statement declaring a global climate emergency.
Published in the journal BioScience, the statement says scientists have a moral obligation to clearly warn humanity of any catastrophic threat and to “tell it like it is”.
“On the basis of this obligation and the graphical indicators presented below, we declare, with more than 11,000 scientist signatories from around the world, clearly and unequivocally that planet Earth is facing a climate emergency.”
The statement draws a direct correlation between greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane and the increase in global temperatures.
Human activities affecting climate change
The scientists list a number of “profoundly troubling signs” due to human activities including increases in:
- Human and livestock populations;
- Per capita meat production;
- World gross domestic product;
- Global tree cover loss;
- Fossil fuel consumption;
- The number of air passengers carried;
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions; and
- Per capita CO2 emissions since 2000.
On the positive side, they noted that consumption of solar power and wind energy has increased 373% each decade.
“To secure a sustainable future, we must change how we live, in ways that improve the vital signs summarised by our graphs,” the statement adds.
“Economic and population growth are among the most important drivers of increases in CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion.”
Energy solutions to climate change
To solve the problem of emissions, the scientists recommend carbon extraction from the source and capture from the air.
In addition, they say people must turn to cleaner sources of energy, moving away from coal and petrol.
“We must swiftly eliminate subsidies for fossil fuels and use effective and fair policies for steadily escalating carbon prices to restrain their use.”
The scientists say they are “encouraged by a recent surge of concern” for the affect of climate change on life.
“Governmental bodies are making climate emergency declarations. Schoolchildren are striking. Ecocide lawsuits are proceeding in the courts. Grassroots citizen movements are demanding change, and many countries, states and provinces, cities, and businesses are responding.
“The good news is that such transformative change, with social and economic justice for all, promises far greater human well-being than does business as usual.”
Solar power and climate change
Wind and solar power uptake around the globe are signs that human beings are responding to climate change.
While the initial impulse to install solar panels may be purely financial — cutting electricity bills — the environmental benefits are a bonus.
Governments are supporting the uptake of solar through federal and state solar rebate programs that provide subsidies on the cost of installation.
Contact Solaray if you want to be part of the global climate change fightback — and slash your power bills as well.
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