Climate change experts affiliated with the United Nations said the only way to turn back the clock on global warming-type disasters is to force all the nations of the world to keep all production and energy activities to a “near zero” carbon emission level — and to mandate taxes and fees across the world.
The only way to do that is for all the nations to agree to “substantial investments” in everything from tree planting to replacing fossil fuels with alternative energy sources, like wind, solar and nuclear, the experts said in their just-released Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report.
“What this report clearly shows is that the challenges to resolve the global common problem are huge,” said Ottmar Edenhofer, a German economist and a leading author of the report released Sunday, CNN reported. “But also this report shows that there are some steps to resolve this issue. I would say in that sense the report also outlines the challenges, but it provides hope — modest hope.”
Still, time is ticking, the U.N. report said.
Among the recommendations: Triple the amount of electricity that’s currently being generated by renewable sources; and tax emissions around the globe.
“Climate policy is not a free lunch,” Mr. Edenhofer said, CNN reported. “But climate policy could be a lunch worthwhile to buy.”
SPECIAL COVERAGE: Energy & Environment
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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