The Harsh Reality of Climate Change

The goal of the Paris Agreement signed back in 2016 is to limit global warming to well below two, preferably to one point five degrees Celsius, compared to pre industrialist levels by 2030. But the harsh reality, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projection, is that global warming will surpass and will register at two point seven degrees by 2050. It’s almost double and is a frightening reality.

Ambassador Janine Felson

Ambassador Janine Felson, Lead Negotiator, AOSIS

“When the science points that we are hitting two point seven, we are going to overshoot one point five within our lifetime, within our children’s lifetime, there is no question in my mind that there has to be a new turn to that narrative where they are actually going to basically account or come to a reckoning of what damages they have caused and how best they can support us. We shudder to think about it because even at one point one and one point two degree of warming we are seeing significant damage across the globe and it is not in any way comparable to what our countries feel. Just again, back to the barrier reef. Scientists say coral reefs are at the tipping point; they will be gone. So we have to be radical in our hope. I mean it sounds almost crazy sometimes because people are saying that they are not responding, but hope is what we have and hope is not passive. Hope can be active, hope can be radical.”