Climate Crisis
In 2015, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established a legally binding international treaty on climate change, with a limit to keep global warming “well below 2.0℃”, and a call to limit to 1.5℃.
A report from scientific experts around the world, building on previous studies and focussed on the impacts of 1.5 degrees global warming (IPCC 2018), subsequently found that:
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Human activities have caused a global average 1.0°C warming, projected to reach 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052.
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Many climate impacts are very sensitive to the increase from 1.5℃ to 2.0℃, with 2.0℃ presenting much greater existential risks to ecosystems and threat to human life.
That report was published 5 years ago - and since then emissions (and temperatures!) have continued to rise.
“Red alert for humanity” (on the findings of the 2021 IPCC assessment report)
“If governments are serious about the climate crisis, there can be no new investments in oil, gas and coal, from now – from this year” (on the 2021 publication of a key energy strategy report)
Despite this, many governments have continued further investments into new fossil fuel projects, including the announcement in April 2022 by the UK government to greatly promote and expand oil and gas production.
In the UK a “cost of living crisis” saw fossil fuel companies avoid windfall taxes, whilst many people are being forced to choose whether to “heat or eat”. BP are profiting off this poverty crisis, and fuelling climate collapse, with record profits doubling over the last year to £23 billion. Shell made £32 billion.
The pandemic has fostered incredible growth in the wealth of the rich, meanwhile inequality contributes to the death of 1 person every 4 seconds.
A radically different approach to productivity is necessary. Degrowth communism presents an alternative to our failing system, of prioritising well-being and improving living standards within sustainable planetary boundaries.
Science in the 21st century is activism
In 2022 Scientist Rebellion launched a series of talks interpreted into Spanish, French, and English. The first series on “The role of scientists on a planet in crisis” has now ended. Recordings are available (some currently only their original language). Topics range from tipping points and communication, to action in the Global South and action for doughnut economics.
The second talks series has now started, including a cutting talk by Prof. Saleemul Huq making calls for action in the scientific community and placing focus on climate impacts in Bangladesh and the global south.
This collective of scientists encourages taking action to demand global climate justice, highlighting political and economic failings.
See scientist-activist groups scientistrebellion.com and scientistsforxr.earth.
The Science
The impacts of climate change at 1.5°C and 2.0°C | Carbon Brief |
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Carbonbrief regularly publish really interesteding and well explained articles about climate change and related topics. This article on the impacts of climate change (summarising the 2018 IPCC report) is a great place to start!
IPCC 1.5°C Report Blog Series | World Resources Institute |
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Everything you need to know about the IPCC 2018 report on 1.5°C. Explained with eye catching infographics highlighting important aspects of the report in easy to digest blog posts.
Climate Lab Book | Ed Hawkins |
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‘Open source’ climate science - a collection of accessilbe guest posts introducing different topics of climate change. Published by author of the infamous ‘climate stripes’.
A Good Life For All Within Planetary Boundaries | University of Leeds |
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“No country in the world currently meets the basic needs of its citizens at a globally sustainable level of resource use." A collection of figures from a Nature Sustainability paper, explaining national resource use associated with achieving a good life globally.
Environment | The Conversation |
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Keep up to date on the latest environmental news as written by scientists and academics.
How much warmer is your city? | BBC |
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This BBC article written in collaboration with carbon brief and Oxford’s Environmental Change Institute explains temperature increase predictions, and the basics of climate models used by groups including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Climate Policy
Source: Carbon Brief
Emissions Gap Report | UN environment programme |
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Each year, a report is published exploring the growing gap between pathways to a livable planet, and the results of current policy.
Independent advice to the UK government | Committee on Climate Change |
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The UK Government has a Committee on Climate Change, which annually reports to parliament on current progress and recommended future policy. They identify many areas that need much more significant action from the UK, and in 2019 highlighted that just 1 out of 25 policies recommended in the 2018 report was delivered by the government. This is a great resource for understanding the UK’s (lack of) climate action.
CEE Bill | CEE Bill Alliance |
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“This Bill outlines the path needed to avoid the catastrophe outlined by the United Nations… it is farsighted aiming to protect those at risk now and in the future.”
Climate Home News | Climate Home News Ltd. |
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Climate change focused news. This is a particularly good resource for following events like the UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP).
Teaching Climate Science
The climate and ecological crises present a severe and existential threat to humanity’s survival. The UK’s first citizen’s assembly on climate change concluded that climate education was a critically important to net-zero emissions.
These are some resources for teachers and young students:
Lets teach the science!
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