Underplaying again

Leading scientists from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research say that the level of carbon budgets for the UK, recommended by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) last December were too weak to limit the temperature rise to 2C and stop dangerous climate change.
At the Copenhagen meet, Tyndall center scientists claimed that the Committee’s report was based on “naively” optimistic” assumptions and scenarios. The report recommends a 34% cut by 2020 but the scientists stress that a minimum reduction of 42% must be made through cuts in the UK, rather than buying offsets abroad.

The committee’s report is “inevitably and significantly compromised” because it focuses on limiting temperature rise to 2C above pre-industrial levels, which the EU defines as dangerous. The report claimed that GHGs would peak at 2016, while the Tyndall centre feels a realistic target is 2020. But this could be too late for the 2C target.

This comes in a week, which has seen Shell announce that it will pull out of renewable energy projects due to their weak economics, and the closure of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme by the government.

However, things seem to be going as planned on the UK’s first national emissions trading scheme - the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC). Details were announced this week. The Scheme that covers the non-energy intensive sector is expected to reduce over 4MtCO2 per year by 2020.

Under-estimation, under-valuation, non-action continue to play big roles as the earth seems headed to a dangerously tipping point from where there may be no coming back. Despite clinching evidence, why are we more keen on fudging figures and buying time than cutting down on our consumption or changing to alternatives?

What does it take to shake a lethargic world community into action – fast and unprecedented?