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“If senators were really following the science in this report, we would have 100 votes for climate action to match 100% certainty that man-made climate change is destroying our planet,” said Senator Ed Markey of the Massachusetts in a press release. “This report must be the last warning to the world that the time is up to save the planet from dangerous and irreversible climate change.”
The latest IPCC report reveals that the world is quickly running out of time to keep man-made global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius. The report presents different scenarios if the nations of the world decarbonise and collectively limit their warming to 1.5 degrees, compared to what will happen if they do not act, leading to a global warming of 2 or 3 degrees Celsius. The latter would have catastrophic consequences for the planet, leading to a worsening of already severe meteorological events such as fires and floods.
“Every element of warming counts, and every element of avoided warming counts,” Dr. Jane Lubchenco, deputy director of climate and environment in the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, told CNN. “We need to step up our ambition and tackle the climate crisis as the existential threat it is.”
With global warming currently at 1.1 degrees Celsius, this summer has already set new records for heat and drought in parts of the United States. Some lawmakers have said they fear this summer may be the tip of the iceberg.
“It’s not like this year is going to be an incident, it will be the best case scenario if we don’t make changes,” Democratic Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota told CNN. “The pastoralists are liquidating their herds of cattle because they cannot find hay, part of the [Minnesota] the surrounding waters are closed due to the risk of fire. I think of my grandson; will he even experience snow in Minnesota? ”
Smith and other lawmakers said the new report underscores the need for Congressional Democrats to pass a $ 3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill that includes strong climate provisions, including tax credits. for renewable energies and a clean electricity standard.
Many lawmakers believe that passing a strong reconciliation bill is their best hope for meeting President Biden’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 to 52 percent from levels in the world. 2005 by 2030. Biden also said he wants the United States to reach net zero. by 2050 and decarbonize the US electricity sector by 2035.
“The world must come together before the ability to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is out of reach,” said US climate envoy John Kerry. “What the world needs now is real action. We can achieve the low carbon economy we urgently need, but time is not on our side.”
Biden and lawmakers have a series of crucial milestones this summer and fall. The bulk of the fiscal reconciliation will likely take place in September and October, setting the stage for the crucial United Nations climate change conference where the United States and other countries will meet to discuss decarbonization commitments.
“All major economies must engage in aggressive climate action during this critical decade,†said Kerry. “This is the only way to put us on a credible path to net zero global emissions by mid-century. This is the critical decade for action, and COP26 in Glasgow must be a turning point in this. crisis.”
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