A statement launched on the eve of the G20 Summit in Hamburg warned that greenhouse gas emissions must show a significant decline by 2020 to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement.
A group of scientists, policymakers, and corporate leaders have released a statement warning that greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by 2020 to effectively tackle climate change.
With this aim, they launched Mission 2020 on the eve of the G20 summit that took place in Hamburg last week. The ultimate goal of the collaborative campaign is to raise awareness and address the need to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in the next three years.
The group is led by former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres who oversaw negotiations on the Paris climate agreement.
The key message of the report is a warning that if greenhouse gas emissions do not show a significant decline by 2020, it will be difficult to limit the effects of climate change within safe limits and meet the temperature goals set in the 2016 Paris Agreement, i.e. to limit a rise in temperatures to below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) by 2030.
In order to achieve this goal, the report has outlined six key milestones to be achieved in the next three years:
The report optimistically notes that progress has been made: for the past three years, worldwide carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels have stagnated and are expected to level off. This is attributed to China’s economic transformation and growth in the use of renewable energy worldwide.
However, world temperatures have peaked for the past two years. 2016 was the hottest year on record: a record temperature 1.1 °C above the pre-industrial period was recorded last year, representing an increase of 0.06 °C above the previous record set in 2015.
This trend reveals that much progress still needs to be achieved in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the next three years for the Paris goals to be eventually reached.
More articles on: sustainability, climate change
Mar. 27, 2024
Technology Drives the Ambitions of Tunisia’s Largest Olive Oil Producer
The CHO Group was an early adopter of blockchain technology for traceability. Now, they are turning to AI to help mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Apr. 22, 2024
Olive Milling Byproducts May Improve Animal Feed
Diets including olive tree leaves and olive oil pomace did not negatively impact the health of sheep or their milk quality while decreasing methane emissions.
Jun. 12, 2024
Deoleo North America CEO Says Sustainability is Key to Growing Olive Oil Sector
Thierry Moyroud views Deoleo as guardians of the industry, prioritizing quality production and sustainable practices above all else.
Oct. 7, 2024
What 485 Million Years of Climate History Tell Us About Today's Crisis
New research finds that Earth’s average temperature has changed more drastically in the past than originally thought, but the current rate remains uniquely perilous.
Apr. 10, 2024
Farmers Protest European Agricultural Policies in Madrid
The protestors demand exceptions for European environmental regulations that they argue make their products less competitive on the global market.
May. 28, 2024
Monte do Camelo Wins Big with Sustainably Grown Native Varieties
The small-scale Portuguese producers earned a Silver Award at the 2024 NYIOOC for a Galega monovarietal. The company focuses on growing native olives sustainably.
Nov. 12, 2024
2024 Will Be the Hottest Year on Record, Scientists Say
The Copernicus climate observatory said 2024 may be the first year average global temperatures exceed the pre-Industrial Revolution average by more than 1.5 ºC.
Dec. 16, 2024
Researchers Investigate Olive Powder as Food Ingredient
Freeze-drying may hold the answer to recovering value from the discarded fruit in table olive production.