The world needs just one in five people to start changing behaviours to tip the balance in the battle against catastrophic climate change, according to a leading expert.
Niklas Hagelberg who helps run the UN’s programme on finding solutions to the crisis believes that swing can create the domino effect to avoid the planet tipping into disaster.
UN chief Antonio Gutteres has already warned the world “is doomed” unless a meaningful deal on action is struck at the Cop27 climate summit this week.
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Mr Hagelberg – a senior coordinator with the UN Environment Programme’s Six Sector Solutions project – says the window to avoid dangerous tipping points that could lead to runaway climate change is closing.
Speaking on the Irish Daily Star/Irish Daily Mirror’s climate podcast ‘Tipping Point’ he said: “The emissions have not peaked they have only peaked in 36 countries or so.
“The alarm bells are ringing all over, but I don’t think people are hearing it yet. It does seem a big part of society is sleepwalking into disaster.”
He described the current situation with rising temperatures and extreme weather events as “dire.”
However he still believes there is hope to change course.
“Why are we not reacting to something that will have major impact on our economies and on our children?” Mr Hagelberg asked.
“There are moments when I am like ‘This is not looking good.’ But this is the time to not falter, this is the time to try harder. We need it from everybody.
“The solutions are there to shift this trajectory. One reason why the glass is maybe more than half full, there are also tipping points in human behaviour.
“Twenty percent of society is all it takes, then the economy and the 600 billion of marketing money out there will do the job.”
The UN’s Six Sector solutions is working on solutions to achieve zero carbon in the areas responsible for 90 percent of emissions: energy, food production, industry, transport, buildings and forestry.
A senior coordinator for the project, Mr Hagelberg says the energy crisis across the globe may present a timely opportunity to get off fossil fuels quicker.
“There are a lot of other pressing issues like energy prices. Paying your electricity bill may be the first thing that is on your mind. The situation does look quite dire,” he said.
“But there is also some progress out there which is unprecedented, the major drop in the price of renewable energy.
“I do see this as an opportunity. Those people who have installed solar panels now are happy. The transition needs to pick up pace to solve the energy crisis we have.”
- Tipping Point a Reach PLC podcast explores the two alternative futures facing the planet. Listen wherever you get your podcasts
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