Global warming is accelerating, with increasingly visible consequences. To reverse the trend, it is urgent to massively reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. But how to act concretely? Here are the avenues for a successful low-carbon transition, at all levels of society.
Global warming has never been more worrying. With heat records broken every year and extreme weather events increasing, it is now undeniable that our greenhouse gas emissions must be drastically reduced. But given the scale of the challenge, how can we act effectively?
Ambitious objectives to limit warming
Scientists are clear: to hope to limit global warming to 1.5°C by 2100, in accordance with theParis Agreementit would be necessary to reach the carbon neutrality globally by 2050. This implies reducing CO2 emissions by 7.6% per year this decade. An ambitious but necessary objective to avoid the worst scenarios.
The key role of renewable energies
To achieve this, the energy transition is an essential lever. This involves gradually replacing fossil fuels, which emit a lot of greenhouse gases, with renewable energies such as solar, wind or hydraulic. Many countries have already made commitments in this direction.
By 2030, the European Union is targeting 32% renewable energy in its energy mix.
According to a source close to the European institutions
Energy efficiency, another pillar of the low-carbon transition
Alongside the development of green energies, it is crucial to improve theenergy efficiencythat is to say, to reduce the quantity of energy necessary for the same service provided. This involves, for example, better insulation of buildings, less energy-consuming equipment or even the eco-design of products. Considerable opportunities for energy savings exist in all sectors.
Rethinking our modes of travel
Transport accounts for around a quarter of global CO2 emissions. To reduce them, the development of sustainable mobility is essential: public transport, carpooling, electric vehicles, active modes such as cycling, etc. There is no shortage of alternatives to the individual thermal car and must be encouraged.
Towards a more circular economy
Our current linear economic model (extract, manufacture, consume, throw away) is the source of a large part of greenhouse gas emissions. To make it more sustainable, we must progress towards circular economy which optimizes the use of resources and limits the production of waste. This involves extending the lifespan of products, recycling them better and favoring repair over systematic replacement.
More sustainable agriculture
Agriculture is another sector that emits a lot of greenhouse gases, particularly methane. To reduce its impact, different avenues exist such as the development ofagroecologyreducing food waste, eating less meat and even preserving soil. More sustainable agricultural practices are essential to feed humanity while preserving the climate.
Preserve and restore biodiversity
Natural ecosystems, such as forests and oceans, play a crucial role as carbon sinks by absorbing part of our emissions. But the degradation of biodiversity, caused in particular by deforestation and overexploitation of resources, reduces their capacity to provide us with this service. It is therefore vital to better preserve and restore naturea challenge as important as reducing emissions.
The importance of everyday eco-actions
If the greatest efforts must come from States and businesses, citizens also have a role to play at their level. Many everyday gestures allow us to reduce our carbon footprint: turn off devices on standby, moderate heating, sort waste, consume local and seasonal, etc. Taken together, these eco-gestures can have a significant impact.
-Companies facing their responsibilities
As public pressure increases, more and more companies are making commitments to reduce their environmental footprint. Some rely on green technologies to decarbonize their activities, others are reviewing their processes to make them more economical. Encouraging steps, even if much remains to be done to align the economic world with climate objectives.
By 2022, more than 3,000 companies around the world have committed to achieving carbon neutrality.
According to a study by a specialized firm
Mobilize citizens and civil society
To accelerate the low-carbon transition, everyone’s involvement is essential. Citizens can act at their level by changing their lifestyles, but also by calling on political and economic decision-makers. For their part, NGOs and associations play a crucial role in raising awareness and advocacy to advance the climate cause. Only general mobilization will make it possible to meet the challenge.
Proactive public policies
States of course have a central role to play in creating a framework favorable to reducing emissions. This happens through ambitious public policies such as the carbon tax, environmental standards, investments in green infrastructure or even support for research and innovation. If some countries are more advanced than others, a generalized acceleration is necessary.
Strengthening international cooperation
As climate change is a global challenge, it can only be addressed with strengthened international cooperation. THE major multilateral agreements like that of Paris in 2015 go in the right direction, but must absolutely be followed by concrete actions. Developed countries, historically the largest emitters, have a particular responsibility to help countries in the South make their own low-carbon transition.
Focus on innovation and green technologies
To achieve carbon neutrality, we will need all available solutions, including those that do not yet exist. This is why it is crucial toinvest massively in research and innovationto develop disruptive technologies in areas such as energy storage, biosourced materials, carbon capture and even green hydrogen. There are tremendous opportunities for green growth to be seized.
Ways of life and consumption to rethink
Beyond technological solutions, it is indeed a profound change in our lifestyles and consumption that is necessary. Consume less, favor local and sustainable products, repair rather than throw away… So many reflexes to adopt to reduce our carbon footprint. This implies individual and collective awareness, but also rethinking our relationship to growth and progress.
If nothing changes, a French person will emit on average 10 tonnes of CO2 per year in 2030, or 3 times more than the objective necessary to respect the trajectory of the Paris Agreement.
According to projections from a French think tank
Ultimately, reducing greenhouse gas emissions is everyone’s business: States, businesses, citizens… Everyone at their own level must take their responsibilities and contribute to this immense collective challenge. The solutions exist, many encouraging initiatives are already at work, but we absolutely need to change scale and pace. The climate emergency does not wait and our future is at stake. The low-carbon transition is a tremendous opportunity to build a more sustainable and united world, let’s seize it while there is still time.
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