Exclusive: Planet is headed for at least 2.5C of heating with disastrous results for humanity, poll of hundreds of scientists finds

Planet is headed for at least 2.5C of heating with disastrous results for humanity, poll of hundreds of scientists finds

Hundreds of the world’s leading climate scientists expect global temperatures to rise to at least 2.5C (4.5F) this century, blasting past internationally agreed targets and causing catastrophic consequences for humanity and the planet, an exclusive Guardian survey has revealed.

Almost 80% of the respondents, all from the authoritative Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), foresee at least 2.5C of global heating above preindustrial levels, while almost half anticipate at least 3C (5.4F). Only 6% thought the internationally agreed 1.5C (2.7F) limit will be met.

Many of the scientists envisage a “semi-dystopian” future, with famines, conflicts and mass migration, driven by heatwaves, wildfires, floods and storms of an intensity and frequency far beyond those that have already struck.

Numerous experts said they had been left feeling hopeless, infuriated and scared by the failure of governments to act despite the clear scientific evidence provided.

  • kent_eh@lemmy.caEnglish
    2·
    6 months ago

    What’s your point?

    Just because someone else is being bad doesn’t obligate us to do nothing about our own contribution to the problem.

    .

    Pull your weight and set a good example for others.

    • intensely_human@lemm.ee
      13·
      6 months ago

      Actually it’s not an argument about obligation, but rather about cause and effect. If oneself isn’t the biggest polluter, then one’s own adherence to principles won’t have the effect of reversing climate change. It’s a matter of the effects caused by one’s choices, and when someone else is the biggest polluter it removes the opportunity to do anything about it, resulting in reduced value.

      That obligation you speak of exists in a context of cause and effect, and those are the things being reasoned about here.

      • Ooops@kbin.social
        4·
        6 months ago

        So… Getting better while China doesn’t creates the effect of reducing emmissions by… let’s say 40%.

        The effect of crying about China as an excuse to not do anything yourself however is 0!

        Which on will you chose?