In its latest report, published on Monday, April 4, the IPCC was very clear. If we want to limit global warming to 1.5°, we have to halve our greenhouse gas emissions at all costs. The bad news is that we would only have eight years left to reach this goal before it’s too late. The good news is that it is possible.
So, of course, we won’t get there without urgent and ambitious measures that will turn our habits and lifestyles upside down.
Firstly, in the field of energy, we will have to make a massive commitment to clean energy and to end the exploitation of fossil fuels. “The use of coal, notes the OBS, should be completely phased out and those of oil and gas will be reduced by 60% and 70% by 2050 compared to 2019 levels.” Therefore, says Greenpeace, “No new oil, gas or coal exploitation should take place and existing infrastructures should be shut down quickly.”
We will also have to rethink the way we travel. †In the transportsexplains The Conversation† demand can be reduced by optimizing supply chains, telecommuting or dematerialization; build infrastructure that allows households to use low- or zero-emission modes of transport, such as public transport or so-called “active” mobility (cycling, walking, etc.), in addition to improving individual vehicles by making them lighter and consuming less energy and electrify.†
To realize these kinds of changes, it will of course be necessary to find financing. But Greenpeace is convinced that the money is not lacking. “We should only put money at the service of solutions and not problems.”
Nothing will happen without a minimum of ambition, effort and questioning our habits. But the game is worth the candle. This is all the more true because most of the recommended measures will have a positive impact that goes well beyond the “simple” climate problem. “For instance, review The conversationlimiting the burning of fossil fuels, in addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reduces local pollutants that are harmful to health.”
As the worst threats pile up above our heads, let’s not forget this vital message: avoiding the worst is possible. It’s about getting started right away.