We Need To Save Our Planet By 2020

According to the scientists who published a Carbon Tracker report, the world only has three more years to beat climate change.

According to the report, should emissions keep rising (or even stabilise) beyond 2020, we will not be able to reach the temperature goals decided upon in the Paris Climate Agreement and after that, there will be no turning back. And while this statement is incredibly dramatic, the good news is that if countries across the globe start acting now, we can still meet these goals.

Over the last three years, the world’s emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels has levelled off, after having steadily risen over a long period of time. And according to HuffPost UK, 2016 was the first time renewable energy overtook the use of fossil fuels, so we’re on the right track.

There is still a long way to go however, and scientists have concluded that there are 6 goals we need to achieve in order to reach the required temperature by 2020.

Energy

Renewable energy needs to make up at least 30% of the global electricity supply

Infrastructure

Cities need to initiate plans to fully decarbonise buildings and infrastructure by 2050, with a 3% upgrade each year.

Transport

Electric vehicles have to make up a minimum of 15% of the world’s car sales — a massive mum from the 1% we are currently on. We also need a 20% decrease in emissions from aviation.

Land

Emissions from deforestation, which is currently at 12%, needs to be reduced to zero next decade.

Industry

Heavy industry such as iron and steel, cement, chemicals, oil and gas need to develop plans for halving emissions well before 2050.

Finance

The financial sector needs to rethink the way it utilises capital, as the annual market needs to process 10 times 2016’s $81 billion ‘green bonds’ by 2020.