• Latest
  • Trending
Immediate fossil fuel phaseout could arrest climate change – study

Immediate fossil fuel phaseout could arrest climate change – study

January 15, 2019
NGOs call for EU non-toxic strategy before Commission’s term ends

NGOs call for EU non-toxic strategy before Commission’s term ends

February 16, 2019
Agriculture task force takes aim at EU investment plan for Africa

Agriculture task force takes aim at EU investment plan for Africa

February 15, 2019
France fears border lorry queues as it braces for no-deal Brexit

France fears border lorry queues as it braces for no-deal Brexit

February 15, 2019
‘Brexit offers Ireland chance to be Europe’s R&D hub and global gateway east and west’

‘Brexit offers Ireland chance to be Europe’s R&D hub and global gateway east and west’

February 15, 2019
Airbus A380 production halt to fuel transatlantic trade spat

Airbus A380 production halt to fuel transatlantic trade spat

February 15, 2019
Agriculture and Farm Machinery Market – Technology in Agriculture the NextGen Trend

Agriculture and Farm Machinery Market – Technology in Agriculture the NextGen Trend

February 14, 2019
Netherlands show interest in cooperation on transport, alternative energy, agriculture

Netherlands show interest in cooperation on transport, alternative energy, agriculture

February 14, 2019
Coinbase threatened by Israeli NGO with lawsuit for enabling Bitcoin [BTC] donations to Hamas

Coinbase threatened by Israeli NGO with lawsuit for enabling Bitcoin [BTC] donations to Hamas

February 14, 2019
EU Commission, farmers fume at Greenpeace on animal farming report

EU Commission, farmers fume at Greenpeace on animal farming report

February 14, 2019
Ban on live trade out of EU would be ‘thin edge of the wedge’

Ban on live trade out of EU would be ‘thin edge of the wedge’

February 14, 2019
Hampton Steel Ltd buys UK agriculture business from Betafence

Hampton Steel Ltd buys UK agriculture business from Betafence

February 13, 2019
When the RSPO is Not an Option

When the RSPO is Not an Option

February 13, 2019
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Eco Daily News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Politics
    • Politics
    • Green Policies
    • National Security
  • Economics
    • Green Economy
    • Oil & Gas, Mining
    • Finance & Banking
  • Environment
    • Water
    • Forests
    • Climate
    • Energy
    • Waste
    • Wildlife
  • Agriculture
    • Food
    • Farming
    • Palm Oil
    • GMO
  • Science
    • Research & Reports
    • Publications
  • Regions
    • Africa
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • North America
    • South America
    • Oceania
  • Lifestyle
    • Green education
    • Eco-Tourism
    • Health
    • Green Jobs
  • Home
  • Politics
    • Politics
    • Green Policies
    • National Security
  • Economics
    • Green Economy
    • Oil & Gas, Mining
    • Finance & Banking
  • Environment
    • Water
    • Forests
    • Climate
    • Energy
    • Waste
    • Wildlife
  • Agriculture
    • Food
    • Farming
    • Palm Oil
    • GMO
  • Science
    • Research & Reports
    • Publications
  • Regions
    • Africa
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • North America
    • South America
    • Oceania
  • Lifestyle
    • Green education
    • Eco-Tourism
    • Health
    • Green Jobs
No Result
View All Result
Eco Daily News
No Result
View All Result

Immediate fossil fuel phaseout could arrest climate change – study

Scientists say it may still technically be possible to limit warming to 1.5C if drastic action is taken now

January 15, 2019
in Economics, Energy, Environment, Europe, Featured, Regions
0
Home Economics
Post Views: 56


Climate change could be kept in check if a phaseout of all fossil fuel infrastructure were to begin immediately, according to research.

It shows that meeting the internationally agreed aspiration of keeping global warming to less than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels is still possible. The scientists say it is therefore the choices being made by global society, not physics, which is the obstacle to meeting the goal.

The study found that if all fossil fuel infrastructure – power plants, factories, vehicles, ships and planes – from now on are replaced by zero-carbon alternatives at the end of their useful lives, there is a 64% chance of staying under 1.5C.

In October, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said the difference between 1.5C of warming and the earlier international target of 2C was a significantly lower risk of drought, floods, heatwaves and poverty for hundreds of millions of people.

Christopher Smith, of the University of Leeds, who led the research, said: “It’s good news from a geophysical point of view. But on the other side of the coin, the [immediate fossil fuel phaseout] is really at the limit of what we could we possibly do. We are basically saying we can’t build anything now that emits fossil fuels.”

Nicholas Stern, of the London School of Economics, who was not part of the research team, said: “We are rapidly approaching the end of the age of fossil fuels. This study confirms that all new energy infrastructure must be sustainable from now on if we are to avoid locking in commitments to emissions that would lead to the world exceeding the goals of the Paris agreement.”

The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, used computer models to estimate by how much global temperatures would rise if a fossil fuel infrastructure phaseout began immediately. The lifespan for power plants was set at 40 years, cars an average of 15 years and planes 26 years. The work also assumes a rapid end to beef and dairy consumption, which is responsible for significant global emissions.

In this scenario, the models suggest carbon emissions would decline to zero over the next four decades and there would be a 66% chance of the global temperature rise remaining below 1.5C. If the phaseout does not begin until 2030, the chance is 33%.

The analysis did not include the possibility of tipping points such as the sudden release of huge volumes of methane from permafrost, which could spark runaway global warming.

The scientists accept their scenario is at the extreme end of ambition, but said it was important to know that meeting the 1.5C target was still physically possible and dependent on the choices made now and in the coming years. “The climate system is not stopping you [hitting the target], global society is stopping you,” Smith said.

Other work, using a different approach, has also shown that keeping within the 1.5C limit is possible if radical action is taken immediately. In some sectors, zero-carbon technology already exists, such as renewable energy. But in others, such as aviation, it does not. “Maybe the solution here is flying less,” Smith said.

Prof Dave Reay, of the University of Edinburgh, who also was not part of the research team, said: “Whether it’s drilling a new gas well, keeping an old coal power station open, or even buying a diesel car, the choices we make today will largely determine the climate pathways of tomorrow. The message of this new study is loud and clear: act now or see the last chance for a safer climate future ebb away.”

Smith’s personal belief is that global heating will surpass 1.5C. “We are going the right way, but I don’t think we will do enough, quickly enough. I think we are heading for 2C to 2.5C.”

But he added: “If you don’t have a goal, you are not going to get anywhere. If you have a target that is really hard to achieve and you miss it slightly, that is better than wandering aimlessly into a future climate that is no good for anybody.”

Source :

The Guardian

Tags: Christopher Smithfossil fuelsNicholas SternProf Dave ReayUniversity of EdinburghUniversity of Leeds
ShareTweetShare
Next Post
Alliance to End Plastic Waste Launches Today

Alliance to End Plastic Waste Launches Today

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

three × 2 =

Translate

Links

Popular Post

NGOs call for EU non-toxic strategy before Commission’s term ends
Agriculture

NGOs call for EU non-toxic strategy before Commission’s term ends

February 16, 2019
0

Two NGO coalitions have pressed the EU to finalise and publish its delayed non-toxic environment strategy before the current Commission's...

Read more
What are New Zealand’s environmental priorities over the next 20 years?

What are New Zealand’s environmental priorities over the next 20 years?

July 15, 2016
South China Sea Ruling: China Caused ‘Irreparable Harm’ to Environment

South China Sea Ruling: China Caused ‘Irreparable Harm’ to Environment

July 15, 2016
Climate change department shut down by Theresa May in ‘plain stupid’ and ‘deeply worrying’ move

Climate change department shut down by Theresa May in ‘plain stupid’ and ‘deeply worrying’ move

July 15, 2016
Animal shelter uses Pokémon Go craze to enlist volunteer dog walkers

Animal shelter uses Pokémon Go craze to enlist volunteer dog walkers

July 15, 2016
  • About Us
  • Creative Commons
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us

Topics

Follow Us

About Us

Ecodaily.eu is part of Eco Daily Media Group LLC, which delivers daily news around the globe.

© 2011 Eco Daily

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Politics
    • Politics
    • Green Policies
    • National Security
  • Economics
    • Green Economy
    • Oil & Gas, Mining
    • Finance & Banking
  • Environment
    • Water
    • Forests
    • Climate
    • Energy
    • Waste
    • Wildlife
  • Agriculture
    • Food
    • Farming
    • Palm Oil
    • GMO
  • Science
    • Research & Reports
    • Publications
  • Regions
    • Africa
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • North America
    • South America
    • Oceania
  • Lifestyle
    • Green education
    • Eco-Tourism
    • Health
    • Green Jobs

© 2011 Eco Daily