Climate scientists call for trebling of green energy
Catastrophic climate change can only be averted if we adopt nuclear, wind and solar power in a big way, says UN
UN CLIMATE scientists will today call for a trebling of renewable energy in order to reduce carbon emissions and limit the expected increase in global temperatures to 2C.
The report by the United Nations climate panel, released todayin Berlin, is the third and final one to be presented before the next UN climate conference in Paris in 2015. The first report argued that global temperatures would rise by between 0.3 and 4.8C by the end of the century and sea levels would rise by 26-82cm by 2100. The second detailed the likely consequences of these changes.
Today’s report says that if we are to avert a catastrophic rise in temperatures (above 2C), we must invest 1-2 per cent of GDP to replace power plants that burn fossil fuels like coal and oil, the major cause of global warming, with renewable sources, the Observer reports.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Scientists recommend we should adopt nuclear power, wind and solar. They also reluctantly endorse gas as the least carbon-intensive fossil fuel.
The report is likely to prove controversial in the UK, with the Conservative Party recently turning against onshore wind farms, which are much cheaper than offshore wind farms. Tory Party Chairman Grant Shapps has suggested that there would be a pledge to curb onshore wind farms in their manifesto for the 2015 general election.
Tory MP Chris Heaton-Harris told the Sunday Telegraph that the UK should concentrate on developing another, controversial, form of fossil fuel, shale gas: “This report is backward looking. We can be a lot greener, emit less carbon and produce cheaper energy if we switch to shale gas rather than ploughing our money into wind farms that plunge the poorest people into fuel poverty.”
However, the Conservatives could now face pressure to drop its growing opposition to wind farms. Christian Aid's senior climate change advisor, Mohamed Adow, said: "Renewable energy is backed by the public; wind power has the support of two thirds (66%) of Britons and the CBI has called on action to tackle climate change.
"The government should be doing all it can to put the UK at the forefront of this energy revolution not blowing hot and cold on the issue.”
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Unthinkable tragedy'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Passenger: 'pleasingly off-kilter' ITV crime drama
The Week Recommends There's 'plenty to be feared' in this British murder mystery set in a quiet northern town
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: March 27, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Why are people and elephants fighting in Sri Lanka?
Under The Radar Farmers encroaching into elephant habitats has led to deaths on both sides
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
How climate change is contributing to global unrest
In Depth Some experts argue that global warming can be tied to rising levels of violence around the world
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Why last-chance tourism is the latest controversial travel trend
The Explainer Race to visit places threatened by climate change 'before it's too late'
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
The 5 biggest corporate greenwashing fines
The Explainer Pretending to be green can be expensive
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
How air pollution affects the brain
The Explainer Breathing fresh air is becoming more rare
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
It might be time to add a new hurricane category
Under the Radar Any way the wind blows
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
The looming extinction of migratory animals
Under the Radar Some species are migrating straight out of existence
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Cicadas are back with a vengeance
Under the radar Beware the cicadapocalypse
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published