Representatives from countries in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change gathered in Bonn, Germany, ahead of the climate conference in Paris. They discussed the goal of keeping global temperature from exceeding pre-industrial levels over 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) will be enough to meet current climate change challenges.
To assess whether the goal is feasible, the meeting considered the results of a structured expert dialogue involving more than 70 experts and parties within the UNFCCC. The report produced by the dialogue concluded that it is of critical importance that global temperatures stay within the 2-degree goal to prevent the worst outcome. Serious effects of climate change can already be felt, so the 2-degree goal is merely a "defensive line." As such, the report pointed out that all efforts must be directed towards staying substantially below the goal.
Joseph Alcamo, special science adviser to UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres, said that climate negotiations are sometimes slow since the science backing climate change is complex, making it difficult to translate it into policies. However, the report brings good news: scientists are starting to come together toward clear and important findings of relevance to making policies.
Governments are set to come up with a universal goal to be agreed upon in the climate summit in Paris. Climate talks in December will be carried out under the context of positive action for the climate that countries have done in the last few years, like advancements in clean technology, shifts to sustainable business models and new climate laws.
With progress toward reducing greenhouse gases occurring faster than expected, Alcamo is confident that the 2-degree goal (or even lower) is feasible.
"[The] report underlines the fact that emissions can be brought down by boosting energy efficiency, expanding the use of renewable energy, and adopting sustainable agriculture," he said, adding that results are consistent with what was expressed by the UNEP Emissions GAP 2014 Report and the Synthesis Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
The report discussed by UNFCCC does not however take precedence over the IPCC's 5th Assessment Report, the formal document on climate science accepted by governments.
The ultimate objective of the UNFCCC is to stabilize levels of greenhouse gases to prevent human-induced interference on the world's climate. Aside from setting a target level, a time-frame must also be set in such a way that it would give ecosystems sufficient time to naturally adapt to climate change and for economies to move forward and progress through sustainable means.
