Читать книгу How Can I Stop Climate Change: What is it and how to help - Литагент HarperCollins USD, F. M. L. Thompson - Страница 102

Despite the government’s recognition that climate change is a greater threat than terrorism, UK emission levels have continued to rise over the past decade.

Some parts of the economy have started to reduce their carbon footprint, but emissions from transport and electricity generation are rising – the latter the result of the recent switch back to coal in power stations.

The government’s draft Climate Change Bill set a target of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent by 2050. But science suggests that this will not be enough. ‘It is clear to us that climate science suggests that this figure may not be adequate to prevent global temperatures rising above dangerous levels,’ said a House of Commons Joint Committee on the Draft Climate Change Bill in August 2007.

The crucial factor is not the target at some distant point in the future, but how much carbon dioxide is building up in the atmosphere. Making cuts sooner rather than later will result in less carbon in total. If the UK is committed to keeping global temperatures within 2°C it may need to look at cuts of 90 per cent by 2050.