Tackling the Challenge of CLIMATE CHANGE

The document argues that the world must move beyond incremental change to a systemic low-carbon transformation. It identifies commercially available technologies in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and land-use practices that can be scaled immediately. It emphasizes the need for carbon pricing, the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies, and a rapid phase-out of unabated coal to avoid catastrophic climate feedbacks and high future mitigation costs.

• Global greenhouse gas emissions are increasing at a rate nearly three times faster since 2000 than they did in the 1990s, meaning current pathways will not achieve necessary deep decarbonization.
• To maintain a 66% probability of limiting warming to below 2°C, cumulative anthropogenic emissions since pre-industrial times must stay below 1000 GtC (or 790 GtC when accounting for non-CO2 gases).
• Energy efficiency improvements in transportation, buildings, and industry are feasible in the near-term using existing technologies, with minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) being among the most cost-effective tools.
• Wind and solar power costs have decreased significantly, and these technologies could avoid approximately 1.4 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions annually by 2020, with potential for an additional 1 billion tonnes if properly supported.
• Deep decarbonization of the global energy system is unlikely without the widespread adoption of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), particularly for economies dependent on domestic fossil resources like China.
• Agricultural and forestry sectors offer significant mitigation potential, including REDD+ activities and carbon sequestration in agroecosystems, with some agricultural options costing less than $5 per tCO2eq.
• Reducing short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) such as black carbon and methane can slow near-term warming and reduce the risk of Arctic melting and sea level rise.
• Annual energy sector investments must increase from approximately US$ 1.3 trillion to between US$ 2.0 and 2.6 trillion to stay below the 2°C goal.
• The construction of new unabated coal-fired power plants is incompatible with the 2°C goal due to their long lifetimes and high emissions compared to renewables.
• Carbon pricing is essential to redirect investment toward clean technology; as of 2014, about 40 national and 20 sub-national jurisdictions had implemented or scheduled carbon taxes or emissions trading schemes.

APA

Earthjustice (2014). Tackling the Challenge of CLIMATE CHANGE. https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/tackling-the-challenge-of-climate-change-aosis-report.pdf

Chicago

Earthjustice. Tackling the Challenge of CLIMATE CHANGE. 2014. https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/tackling-the-challenge-of-climate-change-aosis-report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Earthjustice |title=Tackling the Challenge of CLIMATE CHANGE |date=23 September 2014 |url=https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/tackling-the-challenge-of-climate-change-aosis-report.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{earthjustice2014tackling, author = {{Earthjustice}}, title = {{Tackling the Challenge of CLIMATE CHANGE}}, institution = {Earthjustice}, year = {2014}, month = sep, url = {https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/tackling-the-challenge-of-climate-change-aosis-report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }