Talks on climate change are being held in Katowice, Poland and have commenced with a warning from Sir David Attenborough who addressed the conference. This meeting is of significant importance as it is the first to be held since the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on limiting global temperatures was released in October.
Attenborough has forewarned the collapse of some civilisations with the extinction of much nature if humanity doesn’t take urgent action on climate change. The naturalist said that humanity was facing a major threat and that preservation of the natural world could only be achieved if world leaders drive down harmful emissions.
In response, investments in climate change action from the World Bank will double from 2021 to 2025 which includes $50 billion towards helping countries adapt to the impacts of global warning. The conference, which continues until the 10th December, will review the efforts and pressure needed to increase commitments from countries by 2020.
In the UK, the government is lagging in preparations for the next phases od CO2 reduction such as electric vehicles and most worryingly, plans for heating UK homes. The Committee on Climate Change are encouraging the government to revamp the gas grid and replace existing boilers in order for natural gas in homes to be supplanted by hydrogen. It is clear that climate change is an issue that is falling short with UK ministers as even with the deployment of known low-carbon measures, UK emissions will remain high, especially from aviation, agriculture and industry.
Source: The Independant / The Guardian