Home » 2014 » November » 2 » Fossil fuels should be 'phased out by 2100' says IPCC By Matt McGrath Environment correspondent, BBC News
1:33:09 PM
Fossil fuels should be 'phased out by 2100' says IPCC By Matt McGrath Environment correspondent, BBC News
The unrestricted use of fossil fuels should be phased out by 2100, if the world is to avoid dangerous climate change, a UN-backed expert panel says.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says in a stark report that most of the world's electricity can - and must - be produced from low-carbon sources by 2050.
If not, the world faces "severe, pervasive and irreversible" damage.
The UN said inaction would cost "much more" than taking the necessary action.
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"Those who choose to ignore or dispute the science so clearly laid out in this report do so at great risk for all of us and for our kids and grandkids"
John Kerry, US Secretary of State
"Science has spoken," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said. "There is no ambiguity in their message. Leaders must act. Time is not on our side."
The IPCC's Synthesis Reportwas published on Sunday in Copenhagen, after a week of intense debate between scientists and government officials.
"There is a myth that climate action will cost heavily," said Mr Ban, "but inaction will cost much more."
"We have to first lower the temperature as you will to do with your children, that is what we are doing, that requires some massive, urgent and immediate action."
The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, described the report as "another canary in the coal mine".
"Those who choose to ignore or dispute the science so clearly laid out in this report do so at great risk for all of us and for our kids and grandkids," Mr Kerry said in a statement.
Rapid phase out
"It's very clear from the report that fossil fuels have had their day," said Prof Arthur Petersen from UCL and a member of the Dutch government's team in Copenhagen.
"Of course it is up to politicians to decide which risks they want to take with climate change, so it is not policy prescriptive in saying that these reductions should take place, but it is absolutely clear that the reductions should take place if you want to limit (temperature increases) to 2C."...
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