The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will release a new report on global climate on April 13, promising to ruffle the feathers of many observers.
Authors of the climate report state the world needs to triple or quadruple use of renewable energy sources, including solar and wind plants.
"While we have good trends in renewables... we must incorporate climate change into all the choices we make. It costs a lot to invest in a non-carbon future, but (ignoring the problem) costs a lot in human suffering," Connie Hedegaard, the European Union commissioner for climate action, said in an interview with CNBC.
The IPCC believes the reports make a clear-cut case for actions from governments, corporations and private citizens.
The European Union and the United States are copperating in "phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, phasing down the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)... in promoting sustainable energy, energy efficiency and renewable energy, fighting deforestation... We are committed to ambitious domestic action to limit HFC use and emissions," the European Union recently reported in a joint statement with American officials.
A "dash for gas" is not a long-term solution to rising global temperatures, according to the international body. A move to natural gas is only beneficial for the environment if those plants replace dirty coal facilities, and then only for a short period of time.
"The projected change in global mean surface air temperature will likely be in the range [of] 0.3 to 0.7°C (medium confidence). This projection is valid for the four RCP scenarios and assumes there will be no major volcanic eruptions or secular changes in total solar irradiance before 2035. A future volcanic eruption similar to the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo would cause a rapid drop in global mean surface air temperature of several-tenths °C in the following year, with recovery over the next few years," the IPCC report stated.
Some observers hoping for a clear-cut economic plan to combat climate change may be disappointed by the report, which is not specific in its calls to action.
"Monetary value is only a small part. What about the loss of lives, the loss of ecosystem services?" Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the IPCC, asked the press in Beijing in March.
There were significant disagreements among the group that crafted the report while it was being created. One argument centered around the proper way to classify nations. The report lists nations in four categories - low, lower-middle, upper-middle and high income levels. Some members of the committee wanted just two categories - developing and developed.
IPCC negotiations while creating the new climate change report were closed to the public.
