160 million people live here
The climate changed, but humans didn’t. There is still much we can do to stop going over the 2 degrees of global warming which will devastate large swathes land on which so many millions depend to stay alive. COP 21 represents the last point at which we can make those changes.
This is where we are A baby born next week will never know what it is to live in under 400ppm CO2 1960 Co2 increasing at 0.73 ppm per year. Now 2.11 ‘safe’ level was 350ppm. Passed in 1990 90% of global CO2 emissions comes from burning fossil fuels. Business as usual means 4.5 degree rise in global temperature Proposals so far take us to 3.5 degrees Goal is 2 degrees, which is probably impossible The last ice age temperature variant was degrees Global sea level has risen almost 8 inches since 1901 Extreme weather events increasing
This is where we need to be Responsible economics – needs of people, and planet ecology first Avoid a 1.5 degree temperature rise Legally binding carbon reduction targets Keep all oil and fossil fuels in the ground Transitioning to 100% clean energy Implement energy saving measures and reducing usage Urgent reduction in consumption and production Commitment by developed countries to help underdeveloped countries Empower and educate women worldwide
This is what we need to do De-carbonise housebuilding Reduce energy demand through design, development and engineering Decarbonise all transport and invest in low carbon public transport Stop built in obsolescence and invest in maintenance Reduce packaging and develop a culture of reuse End new roadbuilding, but maintain what we have to high standards Build renewable infrastructure and invest in the grid Champion community energy generation Change our eating habits
Greens across the world urge all governments to make these changes in good heart, with generosity to our poorer neighbours, and in double quick time.
Many Thanks Diolch yn fawr Pippa Bartolotti, Wales Green Party Leader