The verdict is out and it’s a race against time now. According to a new report, our planet is just five years away from catastrophic climate change, but can still be saved.
The World Wide Fund for Nature(WWF)warns governments of countries around the world that they have until 2012 to “plant the seeds of change” and make positive moves to limit carbon emissions. The WWF further warns that if they fail to do the same, then “generations to come will have to live with the compromises and hardships caused by their inability to act”.
James Leape, from the WWF, said:
We have a small window of time in which we can plant the seeds of change, and that is the next five years. We cannot afford to waste them. This is not something that governments can put off until the future.
The world’s energy needs are expected to double between now and 2050. But the Climate Solutions document says that technologies already available could be harnessed to produce enough sustainable energy to power the planet besides reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 60-80%.
The WWF report also states that nuclear power is not necessary to cut carbon emissions. This statement is in stark contrast to the UK Government’s insistence upon the need to go nuclear.
Keith Allott, head of WWF-UK’s climate change programmes, said:
This report shows that although the scale of the climate change challenge can seem daunting, it can be tackled provided we act with real urgency. We can slash carbon emissions and meet global energy demand without resorting to the red herring of nuclear power. The big question is whether the world’s statesmen will have the strength and vision to make this happen – and Britain will be key to that.
The WWF reports depict a grim situation and the responsibility to take concrete action rests only on the leaders of all countries and their people.
Image Credit: Masternewmedia
Source: Sky
