Political courage in Durban needed to combat climate change
Global greenhouse gas emissions are projected to double over the next 40 years. This could result in a 3 to 6 °C increase in the average global temperature by the end of the century. The economic costs and environmental consequences of political inaction on climate change will be significant and combating climate change will require political courage.
This says Angel Gurria, Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), on the basis of their Environmental Outlook to 2050. This outlook is intended as input for the discussions during the current climate conference in Durban, to point out the necessity of rapid action. The publication will be fully published in March 2012 and is a joint production by the OECD Environment Directorate and the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency.
The OECD Environmental Outlook to 2050 paints a grim picture of the world of 2050, if we do not change our policies and behaviour. According to Angel Gurria, governments have to break out of their national mind-sets and look at the global picture. They must speed up negotiations in Durban if we are to meet the internationally agreed goal to limit the global temperature rise to 2 °C.
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