Ensuring that global warming is limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius is possible, only if we act now.
According to a Pacific Academic and one of the authors of the 1.5 report – Dr. Morgan Weir, there is a need for countries to not only agree to measures to limit their carbon emissions but to do so by 2020 and work towards halving their emissions there-after.
“And there is a very strong call for strongly increased zero net emissions, ambition and action until 2030 which is the decisive ambition to achieve the 1.5.”
Presenting the draft 1.5 report to the high level Climate Action Pacific Partnership meeting last week, Dr. Morgan stressed that Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) needed to convince their bigger developed neighbors to commit to real targets.
Anything less would leave PSIDS even more vulnerable to the effects of climate change with more extreme weather events, species loss and damaged beyond repair ecosystems.
Dr. Morgan along with his co-authors is expected to submit the finalized 1.5 report to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in October.
The report was commissioned under the Paris Agreement to facilitate the science and evidence behind the 1.5 target and it’s importance.
