14,000 Scientists Warn Of 'Untold Suffering' If We Ignore Climate Change

Around 14,000 scientists have signed a new climate emergency paper warning that the world could be subject to ¡®untold suffering¡¯ if we don¡¯t work on managing global warming immediately.

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The new paper was led by researchers from Oregon State University is essentially an updated 2019 paper that announced a global ¡®climate emergency¡¯. It looked at Earth¡¯s vital signs based on 31 variables which included greenhouse gas emissions, surface temperatures, glacial ice mass loss, Amazon rainforest loss, along with other social factors like global GDP and fossil fuel subsidies.

Researchers have found that to no one¡¯s surprise, the aforementioned vitals have only gotten worse over the last two years, with 18 out of the 31 categories showing all-time record highs or lows -- Greenhouse gases emission was at an all-time high whereas glacial ice thickness was at an all-time lowest, in the 71 years of recording.

The GDP of the world is higher than it¡¯s ever been however, skies are also more polluted than ever with crazy high carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous levels.

Also Read: Climate Change Is Shifting Earth¡¯s Axis, Making Days Longer For Over 30 Years

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It wasn¡¯t all bad though. Researchers also highlighted some positive trends like record-breaking increase in the use of renewable energy sources -- namely solar and wind power, as well as institutions divesting money from the fossil fuels industry, painting a rather awkward future clubbed with ongoing spikes in natural disasters like hurricanes, wildfires and heatwaves.

They also highlighted that our planet either has or is currently crossing major planet tipping points like the Amazon rainforest becoming a carbon source instead of being a carbon sink -- and such effects will only make it difficult, or even impossible to recover from.

Also Read: Rich Countries¡¯ New Climate Targets Are Still Not Enough To Save Planet Earth

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To avoid the effects from getting worse, researchers recommend a three-pronged approach: Firstly, to implement a significant global carbon price for a reduction in carbon emissions. Secondly, phase out and eventually ban fossil fuels entirely and thirdly restore and protect crucial carbon-rich systems like forests and wetlands to help them continue their job of being carbon sinks.

Also Read: Earth Lost 28 Trillion Tonnes Of Ice From 1994 To 2017 Due To Global Warming

The authors concluded by stating, "Implementing these three policies soon will help ensure the long-term sustainability of human civiliza?tion and give future generations the opportunity to thrive. The speed of change is essential, and new climate policies should be part of COVID-19 recovery plans."