Recently scientists, policy-makers, climate experts and civil society organisations have gathered at the Tällberg Forum, in Sweden to discuss how on Earth we can all live together.
Climate Change: A call for action
Cutting edge
research was presented at the Tällberg Forum 2008 and discussed by leading scientists from Stockholm
Environment Institute, NASA and several other institutions. Their conclusions should now inform
politicians in their decision-making.
Recent
observations, new scientific results and improved understanding of feedback
loops and critical thresholds show that the climate situation is more serious
than previously thought. In particular, it is now clear that we run a
significant risk of passing catastrophic tipping points, such as the total
disappearance of polar ice, unless we reduce atmospheric concentrations of
carbon dioxide to no more than 350 parts per million (ppm) as quickly as
possible.
The depth and
speed of emission cuts depends on the level of risk politicians are willing to
take with the climate. Discussions in
Tällberg suggest that to achieve 350 ppm it will be necessary for global
emissions of greenhouse gases to:
- peak
within 5 years; and
- decrease
by 100% by 2050.
It is
important to note that even these seemingly drastic targets are not an
application of the precautionary principle - according to IPCC figures there is
still significant risk of extreme climate change.
Following the
discussion at Tällberg, the conclusion of the undersigned is that to reach
these targets GHG emissions in the EU will need to decrease immediately and
continue decreasing at a steady pace.
For the EU this is likely
to mean a reduction of least 60% greenhouse gases by 2030 when compared to 1990
levels.
The current
climate targets of the EU do not deliver a world of 350 ppm. The targets currently proposed are risky and
the stakes high. We hope Members of the
Environment Committee of the European Parliament will by 2 July 2008 take the opportunity to propose amendments to the
review of the Emission Trading System and the Effort Sharing Directives that
are consistent with current science.
Bo Ekman
Tällberg Foundation
Johan Rockström,
Stockholm
Environment Institute
Further Reading
350 ppm: www.tallbergfoundation.org and www.sei.se
Draft amendments
Letter in pdf