“It is easy to focus on writing technical scientific papers, or argue that the situation is complex and therefore not so alarming. It is easy to think only about the details and not the big picture.”
Four leading UK scientists and five questions – it’s important to read this and share it.
Corinne Le Quéré is Professor of Climate Change Science and Policy at the University of East Anglia and Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research,
Sir Robert Watson is the former Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (1997-2002) who has worked on atmospheric science issues including ozone depletion and global warming since the 1980s,
Dr Simon Lewis is a Reader in Global Change Science at the University College London and the University of Leeds
Kevin Anderson is Professor of Energy and Climate Change in the School of Mechanical, Aeronautical and Civil Engineering at the University of Manchester and Deputy Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.
and the questions (and these are the critical questions),
What do you consider to be a safe temperature increase after which dangerous climate change occurs?
What chance do you think the world has of staying below 2°C of warming?
If adequate action is not taken on climate change, what will the world look like in 50 or 100 years in terms of global temperatures, environmental, social and economic impacts?
Can you give an idea of the level and speed of changes our governments need to make to avert catastrophic climate change?
As someone whose job gives them a deep understanding of the bleak future facing the planet and humanity, how do you personally deal with this on an emotional and psychological level?