[GPSCC-chat] 2C vs. 1.5C

[Gerry Gras]

Today there was an email on the 350 Silicon Valley Chat
email list.  The author of that email apparently was
unaware that some have been advocating a 1.5C limit.
I sent a response, that included some info about the
history of the 2C vs. 1.5C struggle.  And I thought
you might find it (my email) of interest.

Gerry


-------- Forwarded Message --------

That 1.5C number rang a bell.  I remember reading about the
need to limit to 1.5C sometime ago, and that some were fighting
for it.

So I did a search for 1.5C and climate change and I found
many relevant articles.  Below are just a few.  Note that
the small island nations are leading the goal of 1.5 C.
Not surprising.

December 15, 2009 (Copenhagen Conference)
"Breaking: A Powerful Appeal from Desmond Tutu"
http://350.org/breaking-powerful-appeal-desmond-tutu/
"A global goal of about 2 degrees C is to condemn Africa to incineration
and no modern development."

December 16, 2009 (Copenhagen Conference)
"100 Countries for 350 and “1.5 to Stay Alive”!"
http://350.org/100-countries-350-and-15-stay-alive/

June 8, 2010
"Islands Continue to fight for Real Deal at UN Climate Talks"
http://350.org/islands-continue-fight-real-deal-un-climate-talks/

December 9, 2010 (Cancun Conference)
"“Negotiating for Survival” in Cancun"
http://350.org/negotiating-survival-cancun/

June 1, 2011
"Global warming should be limited to 1.5C, UN climate chief says"
"Christiana Figueres tells carbon trading conference that the current
limit of a 2C temperature rise is 'not enough'"
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/jun/01/christiana-figueres-climate-2c-rise
[This article talks about the history of the 1.5C vs. 2C fight.]

November 23, 2014
"World Is Locked into About 1.5°C Warming & Risks Are Rising, New
Climate Report Finds"
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2014/11/23/climate-report-finds-temperature-rise-locked-in-risks-rising

May 26, 2015
"How to Limit Global Warming to 1.5 Celsius by 2100"
http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-blogs/climatechange/how-to-limit-global-warming-to/47739652

================== excepts ==================
The research team found that achieving this more agressive goal was
indeed feasible.

1. The study determined that there is no time for delay as we need to
scale up global carbon mitigation and emissions reductions within the
next decades.

2. The remaining carbon budget for the 21st century would have to be
reduced to half of the currently accepted 2 degrees Celsius limit scenario.

3. Carbon emissions would have to become negative at a global scale at
some point this century. How? Through bioenergy use, carbon
capture/storage and growing more forests.
=============================================

Gerry

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