Renewable power like wind and solar has continued to surge in 2023, offering hope for climate talks in Dubai
Renewable power like wind and solar has continued to surge in 2023, offering hope for climate talks in Dubai

Five climate change solutions under the spotlight at COP28

It's not all doom and gloom at the COP28 climate summit.

 

The Earth's climate is changing rapidly and urgent action is needed to avoid the most damaging consequences for people and nature.

But there is hope, and delegates in Dubai are discussing several very concrete ways to limit warming.

So what are some of these "solutions", and how are they progressing?

1. Cut fossil fuels
The most important thing is, of course, to cut down on burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas). So let's start with that.

They account for more than three quarters of all global greenhouse gas emissions that are responsible for temperatures rising.

As a result, many governments, scientists and campaigners want to see a global agreement on phasing out polluting fossil fuels at COP28.

Encouragingly, global demand for coal, oil and gas are all expected to peak before 2030, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says.

But this is far from enough to meet climate goals agreed by nearly 200 countries in Paris in 2015 - to keep long-term warming "well below" 2C and "pursue efforts" to limit it to 1.5C.

In fact, if all the coal, oil and gas from existing and under-construction fossil fuel projects were fully burned, the world would warm far beyond 1.5C, according to a recent report by the UN's Environment Programme. That's assuming their emissions could not be captured.

But some countries are still increasing production, even though there is no need for investment in new coal, oil and gas to meet the world's energy needs on the IEA's "net zero" pathway.

Planned fossil fuels put the world well off track for 1.5C. Line graph showing expected emissions to 2050 from fossil fuel production under four scenarios: government plans and projections (highest emissions), stated policies, announced pledges, and the scenario consistent with 1.5C (lowest emissions).

 

2. Increase 'renewables'
Fortunately, the world has plenty of alternative sources of clean, renewable energy, like from the wind and Sun.

As costs plummet, renewables are booming in many parts of the world - even faster than the IEA expected.

In 2022, solar generation was five times higher than in 2015, while wind generation was two-and-a-half times higher.

By 2030, wind and solar could supply more than a third of all electricity, up from 12% currently, according to the RMI, a US research organisation.

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