We have the tools to fight climate change. It’s time to start using them

The author contends that the world is entering the Anthropocene epoch, where human impact is accelerating Earth's system changes and risking irreversible tipping points. Despite the availability of renewable energy and economic strategies like carbon pricing, global emissions from fossil fuels are expected to grow by approximately 2% in 2017. The text warns that the carbon budget to stay within the 2°C target will be exhausted in about 20 years unless emissions peak by 2020 and reach zero by 2050.

• Global greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels are projected to increase by approximately 2% in 2017, following a three-year period of relative stability.
• Major emitters are failing to lead: the US is reducing emissions regulations, and China's emissions are projected to rise by 3.5% despite investments in clean energy.
• The Earth is entering the Anthropocene, characterized by accelerating changes in biology, chemistry, and physics that threaten critical tipping points in the Amazon rainforest, ocean currents, and El Nino.
• To avoid exceeding the 2°C target, global emissions must peak by 2020, approach zero by 2050, and be halved every decade; otherwise, the remaining carbon budget will be exhausted in roughly 20 years.
• Economic solutions to accelerate the transition include implementing a carbon price and eliminating fossil fuel subsidies, which the IMF estimates cost the global economy $5 trillion annually.

APA

Luers, J. R. A. (2017). We have the tools to fight climate change. It’s time to start using them. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/we-have-the-tools-to-fight-climate-change-so-why-arent-we-using-them/

Chicago

Luers, Johan Rockström, Amy. We have the tools to fight climate change. It’s time to start using them. World Economic Forum, 2017. https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/we-have-the-tools-to-fight-climate-change-so-why-arent-we-using-them/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Luers |first1=Johan Rockström, Amy |title=We have the tools to fight climate change. It’s time to start using them |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=17 November 2017 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/we-have-the-tools-to-fight-climate-change-so-why-arent-we-using-them/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{luers2017have, author = {Luers, Johan Rockström, Amy}, title = {{We have the tools to fight climate change. It’s time to start using them}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2017}, month = nov, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/we-have-the-tools-to-fight-climate-change-so-why-arent-we-using-them/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }