A landmark report concluding that the window is narrowing for decisive action to avoid the worst consequences of climate change has sparked calls for urgent action in Massachusetts.
The world’s top climate scientists found that the Earth is approaching the watershed mark of 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial temperatures a decade earlier than expected, according to the report by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, released early Monday morning.
Even if all emissions ceased today, the effects of global warming will continue, because the carbon already in the atmosphere will take thousands of years to dissipate. But some of the worst effects could be slowed or avoided if humans act quickly to stop rising temperatures, which means countries would have more time to adapt to things like rising sea levels.
For coastal cities like Boston, the threat is urgent and people are speaking out to call for urgent action.
City Councilor Michelle Wu, a mayoral candidate who has sought to establish herself as the “climate candidate” and proposed Boston’s own “Green New Deal,” said during a news conference that the report left her “quite shaken and emotional.”
Wu said there are many things that Boston can do to mitigate its own impacts, from reducing carbon emissions from new development, to replacing the city’s diesel school bus fleet, to planting more trees; she committed to planting 30,000 new trees by the end of the first year in office, double what the city is doing now.
The report Monday was a stark reminder of the urgency, Wu said, adding that policy leaders owe bold visions to protect their children and grandchildren’s future.
“The report represents the most updated of science, of metric, of worldwide consensus, and the takeaway is that it’s on our shoulders, right now in this moment to step up” she said. “The actions that we take right now will have generational consequences. And it’s on the city of Boston to make sure we are leading the way again. This is in the DNA of our city, to step up in the moment of crisis. To fight the important fight, and to show what is possible when we come together.”
Also speaking at Wu’s event was District One City Councilor Lydia Edwards, who represents the largest area of waterfront in one district.
“Today’s report sent chills and terror through me,” Edwards said. “Climate change and this climate urgency is directly impacting all of my residents. We understand quite frankly and acutely in Charlestown, East Boston, and the North End, if we do nothing, we can’t exist as communities.”
She said Boston is already seeing the effects of climate devastation with a summer of “alternating huge thunderstorms, heavy rains, flooding, and then high heat for days on end.”
Maliha Khan of the Environmental League of Massachusetts also endorsed Wu as a climate leader, saying, “Now is not the time to prolong this call to action.”
Ben Downing, who is running for governor of Massachusetts, also tweeted a call to action, including his plan to transition to a “clean energy, carbon-free future,” with equity at its center.
All the IPCC report does is put on paper what scientists and advocates have been saying for decades & what we all have been seeing for years. Climate change is an urgent threat. Our leaders need to act like it. https://t.co/3wETaIY3zp
— Ben Downing (@BenDowningMA) August 9, 2021
The West is on fire. Sea levels are rising. Climate change is a clear and present danger, and we have to do everything we can to protect our planet.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) August 8, 2021
Others around the state noted the stark reality of what this means for humanity. “If we drag our feet, warming could exceed 4.4 degrees Celsius (8.1 degrees Fahrenheit), which could [actually] spell the end of human civilization,” tweeted climate activist group Extinction Rebellion Boston. “We are fighting for the future of humanity.”
#IPCC report makes clear that we are fighting for the future of humanity. 1.5°C is probably unavoidable at this point. 2°C is avoidable with drastic action. But if we drag our feet, warming could exceed 4.4°C (8.1°F), which could actual spell the end of human civilization.
— Extinction Rebellion Boston 🐝⌛🦋 (@XRBoston) August 9, 2021
We have heard our final warning from the IPCC and we don't have a minute to waste on climate deniers or anyone who would stand in the way of saving our planet. The time for bold climate action is now. https://t.co/fBVBrbAD6W
— Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) August 9, 2021
Some remarked on the impact such dire climate news has on people’s mental health.
Just another Monday of getting the kids ready for camp and figuring out how to carve out emotional space to read the IPCC climate report
— Rekha Murthy (@rekha6) August 9, 2021
Released at 4 a.m. Eastern Time, the IPCC report described five possible scenarios for the future, ranging from decisive action to stop using fossil fuels to allowing emissions to increase. The planet’s current trajectory is just above the report’s middle scenario of a rise in temperature by 2.7 degrees C by the end of the century, but even achieving that will require countries to formalize legislation requiring cuts to emissions.
An eery but powerful solidarity with everyone up at 4a to watch the @ipcc press conference. Thank you to the scientists and journalists helping us make sense of this devastating story.
This is the moment to pull with all our might to save the planet. All hands on deck.
— Dr. Gaurab Basu (@GaurabBasuMDMPH) August 9, 2021
John Kerry, the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, tweeted, “The climate crisis is not only here, it is growing increasingly severe.
“Now is the time for action and Glasgow must be a turning point in this crisis. We need all countries to take the bold steps required to keep 1.5°C within reach,” Kerry said.
Today's report from the @IPCC_CH shows that we cannot afford further delay. The science has been certain for decades, but the latest report makes it abundantly clear – the climate crisis is not only here, it is growing increasingly severe.
— Special Presidential Envoy John Kerry (@ClimateEnvoy) August 9, 2021
Sahar Fatima can be reached at sahar.fatima@globe.com Follow her on Twitter @sahar_fatima.
"urgent" - Google News
August 10, 2021 at 01:22AM
https://ift.tt/3lNTmP8
New climate change report sparks calls for urgent action in Massachusetts - The Boston Globe
"urgent" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2ya063o
https://ift.tt/3d7MC6X
urgent
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "New climate change report sparks calls for urgent action in Massachusetts - The Boston Globe"
Post a Comment