« Climate Scientists Urge OneEarth Ways »

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a panel comprised of 207 scientists around the world were the Lead Authors of this latest report on Sep. 27, 2013. From 1988, when the Panel first began up to now, the scientists have become increasingly convinced that humans are causing by far the most of the changes in Earth’s climate. This report says “it is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century.” “Extremely likely” has a technical definition. It means 95% certain—that’s the same certainty science has that cigarette smoke is deadly. 

It’s highly significant that this report stresses that actions must be taken now. Another IPCC report in Spring, 2014, is much anticipated, expecting it will define more policies that must be put into place.

Briefly, here are the answers of the IPCC report to the following four questions—

Can we hold to 2 degrees Celsius? Current rates of carbon release into the atmosphere will hurtle us past 2 degrees Celsius by 2030. That means 20 year olds today will be inhabiting by age 37, a planet with issues civilization has never before faced. Only projections by the IPCC 2013 Report that follow the best case scenario can keep us below 2 degrees. To put 2 degrees in perspective, during the Glacial Age average planetary temperatures were only 5 degrees cooler than they are today. The window of Earth’s inhabitability is indeed narrow.

What about fossil fuel reserves? Nations that are major emitters of greenhouse gases need to adopt policies that will keep 80% of fossil fuel reserves underground.

What should investors do? Renewable energy policies need to be made more certain so that investors feel confident investing in them. Already, renewable energy IS  the fastest growing power source and will be 25% in 2018. Hawai’i is leading the way with a massive expansion of rooftop solar systems connected to the grid. Meanwhile, investors have become more nervous about the risks involved in fossil fuels. Through an initiative of a few people starting a year ago, hundreds of colleges are now considering divesting from fossil fuel energies or have already done so. Some cities and churches are doing the same. 

What about economic and population growth? Neither the report nor the greater public addresses that economic and population growth is incompatible with renewal of the planet. But I address both in a chapter in my book, Blinded by Progress: Breaking Out of the Illusion that Holds Us. Empowering women with education and with open doors to leadership may be the biggest single action we can take toward an economy not addicted to growth for success and to controlling runaway population growth on a limited planet.

This massive 14 chapter report from IPCC definitively reaffirms the scientific consensus that OneEarth living is our urgent necessity.