Page 28 - ARUBA TODAY 7 NOV 2015

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SCIENCESaturday 7 November 2015

U.N. report raises ceiling for greenhouse gas pollution

KARL RITTER faster after 2030 than was gives the questionable im- Scientists say temperatures move more greenhouse

Associated Press assumed in previous re- pression that despite in- have already risen more gas from the atmosphere

STOCKHOLM (AP) — The ports. creasing emissions there’s than 0.8 degrees C (1.4 than what is added by hu-

U.N.’s environmental au- UNEP chief scientist Jac- always a way to reach degrees F) since the indus- man activity in the latter

thority has quietly raised its queline McGlade told The the 2C target,” said Oliver trial revolution, and that half of the century to make

assessment of the level at Associated Press the ear- Geden, of the German In- the warming is mostly man- up for overshooting bench-

which global greenhouse lier assessments weren’t stitute for International and made, mainly due to emis- marks earlier, which Geden

gas emissions must peak to wrong, but were based on Security Affairs in Berlin. sions from the burning of called a “dubious” con-

avoid dangerous climate emissions scenarios that are The 2-degree target was fossil fuels. cept.

change, as gov- The idea of so-

ernments seek called “nega-

a new accord tive emissions”

to fight global is that humans

warming. would plant

In its first four an- more emissions-

nual emissions absorbing for-

reports in 2010- ests and crops,

2013, the United and deploy ex-

Nations Environ- pensive tech-

ment Program nologies that

said emissions capture emis-

must not ex- sions from the

ceed 44 billion energy and in-

tons in 2020 for dustry sectors.

the world to limit The UNEP reports

global warming are based on

to 2 degrees C scientific assess-

(3.6 degrees F). ments by the

But with real- authoritative In-

world emissions tergovernmen-

rising far be- tal Panel on Cli-

yond that level, mate Change.

UNEP has since IPCC scientist

last year down- Chris Field said

played its focus that at some

on 2020 as a level questions

make-or-break In this July 1, 2013, file photo, smoke rises from the Colstrip Steam Electric Station, a coal burning power plant in in of what peak-
year for emis- ing year or emis-
sions reductions. Colstrip, Mont. Associated Press sions reductions

In this year’s Emissions Gap “no longer realistic.” adopted in U.N. climate UNEP now places little em- are feasible aren’t really

report, a summary of which Critics said the change re- talks in 2010. Two degrees phasis on its earlier view about science.

was released Friday, UNEP flects political pressure to of warming compared with that emissions must peak “It is about the priority that

says the world can still show the 2-degree goal pre-industrial times, is wide- before 2020. Last year it the topic is assigned,” he

reach the 2-degree target is still feasible as govern- ly seen as a level where just said emissions “need to said. “With a high enough

with emissions of 52 billion ments work on the U.N. climate change becomes peak soon” and this year’s priority, societies or even

tons by 2020, which is just climate agreement that’s unmanageable, with fast- summary didn’t even men- the world community can

slightly below today’s level. supposed to be adopted in rising sea levels, intensify- tion a peaking year. do amazing things. But

The new analysis assumes Paris next month. ing droughts and other im- Its scenarios assume the amazing accomplishments

that emissions cuts will drop “The emissions gap report pacts. world will be able to re- require amazing efforts.”q