“As the world prepares for the UN Paris climate summit, the world is at a tipping point. But a political and scientific revolution could yet save it….
“Remarkably, 2015 is the make-or-break year and all the signs are there that we are changing course – a great transformation is not only within sight, it is under way. Here’s why. First, world leaders met in New York recently to agree the sustainable development goals – applying equally to all nations. This is a paradigm shift in thinking; it acknowledges for the first time that our wellbeing, the global economy and human development all rely on a stable biosphere and that this very stability is at risk. Second, we have reached “peak child”; the number of children in the world is no longer increasing. Population will eventually stabilise at 10-12 billion. And third, world leaders meet again next month to seek a workable solution to the climate challenge.
“The best evidence from science indicates that there is still time to avoid dangerous climate change, but the window of opportunity is closing rapidly. The world’s biggest emitters – China and the US – are showing real global leadership for the first time.
“….earlier this year, my colleagues and I published the Earth Statement, outlining the eight essential ingredients of a successful agreement in Paris. This has now been signed by business, political and religious leaders including Richard Branson, Arianna Huffington, Mary Robinson, Desmond Tutu, Al Gore and Paul Polman. In the weeks before the Paris summit, we have launched a social media campaign, This Is My #EarthStatement, to build public support. Instead of signing an online petition, people can sign their own bodies and post photographs online to show not just a strong message to politicians, but also personal commitment to act. We’ve seen enormous support from sports stars such as Olympic skier Julia Mancuso, musicians, business leaders and politicians – next week, 15 mayors from major capital cities will sign to show their support. Will the change be fast enough? Will emissions cuts be deep enough?”
Read the full story by Johan Rockström, professor in environmental science at Stockholm University and executive director of Stockholm Resilience Centre….
Photograph: Participants in the social media selfie campaign entitled ‘This Is My #EarthStatement’.
Photo credit: The Earth Statement
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