The world lacks not only the will, but the technology to achieve the deep carbon cuts needed to avert catastrophic climate change, according to a report presented to the United Nations today by leading research institutions in 15 countries. The scientists maintain that limiting global warming to 2° Celsius above pre-industrial levels is still achievable, just barely.
It will require an international multi-billion dollar commitment to research, development, demonstration, and diffusion of low-carbon technology. "The deep transformation that is required depends on technology that is not yet operating at scale, and for which scalability is not yet proven," said Jeffrey Sachs, director of Columbia University’s Earth Institute and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), which coordinated the report.
Involving scientists from 30 institutions in 15 countries that together account for 70 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, the report is the first global cooperative effort to identify practical pathways to achieving a low-carbon economy 2050, SDSN said.
The group considers its work an interim document, which it posted publicly for comment this morning after a briefing for United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. In a statement, Ban praised the effort, saying the report "shows what’s possible.