New research in global ecology and public health shows that the consequences of burning fossil fuels are much more severe than previously understood. Current global warming targets are not enough to protect us from sea level rise, ecosystem collapse, and hundreds of millions of human deaths from fossil fuel pollution. Thankfully, the cost of renewable energy technologies has dropped below the cost of fossil fuels decades faster than predicted. This has triggered a renewable revolution that is transforming the global energy system. Our paper considers the feasibility of accelerating this transition through policy, investment, and strategic research. We conclude that there is a viable pathway to restoring Earth’s climate through clean electrification and carbon capture. We call for a global commitment to restore pre-industrial climate conditions within a century and describe what approaches would increase our chances of success. Accelerating the renewable revolution would move us toward a sustainable civilization by eliminating air pollution, stabilizing climate, reducing energy costs, and enhancing living standards worldwide. Because there is no safe level of climate disruption or pollution death, we believe it is our responsibility to restore a Holocene-like climate, which we know can support human civilization and other life on Earth.
This is great framing for a “return to the Holocene” instead of aiming for 1.5 or 2 degrees warming.
I learned from this that the time of increased warming matters just as much as the amount of warming. In other words 1 degree warmer for a couple years isnt terribly significant but 1 degree warmer consistently for a century can trigger massive collapse. So we need to aim for a return to pre industrial emissions.
I am skeptical that this can all be accomplished within capitalism and without a focus on degrowth, but I appreciate the papers optimism.