What are some of the solutions to climate change?
The Associated Press
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Good morning, welcome to the AP Climate Watch newsletter. My name is Natalia Gutiérrez , climate engagement manager. This week I'll mention some of the solutions to climate change that experts agree on. This information is based on our Climate Questions series where we answer questions about the science behind climate change.
In last week's newsletter, I discussed the impact that even a half-degree of warming can have on the global climate and our lives. If our main goal is to slow down climate change, do we still have time? And what are some of the solutions that we know are working?
Despite the challenges, all hope is not lost . There is still time to prevent cascading effects. Ajay Gambhir, a senior research fellow at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, based at Imperial College London, warns, “The further we delay action on addressing climate change by reducing our emissions, the warmer the world will get.”
To really combat climate change, scientists and officials unanimously agree on the importance of avoiding exacerbating it by burning more fossil fuels — coal, oil and natural gas.
The transition to cleaner alternatives, such as solar and wind energy , is crucial, although challenges remain for industries like cement-making, steel and shipping, which are harder to wean off dirty fuels. Experts are exploring solutions such as "green fuels."
Another problem to address is methane, a greenhouse gas that is about 80 times more potent in the short term when it comes to trapping Earth’s heat than carbon dioxide. A little more than a month ago, during COP28 in Dubai, 50 oil companies representing nearly half of global production pledged to reach near-zero methane emissions and end routine flaring in their operations by 2030 — a move viewed skeptically by environmental groups.
Additional solutions involve addressing deforestation and modifying diets to combat climate change. The United Nations Act Now campaign for individual climate action encourages people to minimize their personal carbon footprint by altering energy and transportation use, as well as food consumption.
Even though individuals can minimize their carbon footprints, experts caution against allowing polluters to shift the entire responsibility onto individuals .
Although there are things people can do to minimize their personal carbon footprints, University of Pennsylvania climate scientist Michael Mann said, “We must not allow ... polluters to reframe the discussion so that it falls entirely upon individuals, which takes the pressure off of them.”
Read all the Climate Questions stories and check out our climate coverage .
领英推荐
Here’s what else you need to know?
One big number:
10 million
The number of homes the Biden administration aims to power with offshore wind by 2030 — a key piece of its climate goals.
Thank you for reading this newsletter. We’ll be back next week. For questions, suggestions or ideas please email [email protected] ?
This newsletter was written by Natalia Gutiérrez , climate engagement manager, and edited by Tim Reiterman, an editor for climate and environment.
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10 个月Unanimously? Sorry, do you have a study that shows scientists are unanimous about this?
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10 个月I recently watched a documentary that explained switching to a plant-based diet is the single best thing a person can do when it comes to climate change. If people would just give it a try they would find themselves fuller for longer while having increased energy levels and brain power. Even if you do it until 6 p.m. each day, it has health benefits beyond what it does for the planet.