New IPCC head downplays 1.5°C [Gas in Transition]

New IPCC head downplays 1.5°C [Gas in Transition]

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Natural Gas News
New IPCC head downplays 1.5°C [Gas in Transition]

Summary

His first action was to call for a balanced approach to the climate change debate, saying that “it's not helpful to imply that a temperature rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius is an existential threat to humanity.” [Gas in Transition, Volume 3, Issue 8] by: Charles Ellinas

Jim Skea was elected chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in late July. He has been involved with IPCC since its foundation in the 1990s, and was previously a professor of sustainable energy at Imperial College London. His first action was to call for a balanced approach to the climate change debate, saying that “it's not helpful to imply that a temperature rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius is an existential threat to humanity.” Skea is optimistic that people still have power over the future trajectory of global warming, but “the challenges are huge.” And “the key thing is to not become paralysed into inaction by a sense of despair.” In an interview with Der Spiegel at the end of July, Skea warned against laying too much value on the current nominal target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. He said “Don't overstate the 1.5°C threat … the world won't end if it warms by more than 1.5°C,” but it will be more dangerous. He made these comments at a time of growing backlash against the tactics of environmental activist groups, such as Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion. He is convinced th...