Recently a group of scientists has asked the IPCC to look at the possibility of catastrophic climate change outcomes, including human extinction. They argue that the world should start preparing for the possibility of what they call “Climate Endgame”. So far most scientific research has centred on looking at the consequences of rises in temperature of 1.5C or 2C but these scientists feel that more attention should be paid to looking at the catastrophic consequences of a rise in temperatures of 3C. Such demands are similar to ones made by groups like Extinction Rebellion, who call on governments to tell the truth about the effects of climate change. So far governments have avoided looking at such worst-case scenarios to avoid alarming the population “unnecessarily”.
Surely it should be clear that efforts to keep temperature rises below 1.5C are unrealistic. As Guillermo Rua reminds us every week in his excellent Ekosfera programme concentration of carbon dioxide ppms in the atmosphere continues to rise and is over 400ppms when to be safe it should be less than 300 ppms. It is very clear that we need to be doing much more to avoid the excesses of climate change but it would appear to be the war in Ukraine that moves European governments to act more than climate change. In November the COP 27 will be held in Egypt and on 12th November the Alliance for the Climate is calling on all groups and individuals to demonstrate on Saturday 12th November in defence of the climate. And for any group or individual ready to take part in the organization of the demonstrations Greenpeace has organized a meeting in Madrid at 11:00 on 9th September. Provision will be made for online attendance and any group interested in taking part can contact Lorea Flores at lflores@greenpeace.org or phone 669 157 866.
