The countdown has begun: humanity has only two years to save the planet from the most catastrophic consequences of climate change. This is the alarm raised by Simon Stiell, chief climate expert of the United Nations, at a public event in London. A warning that resonates like an ultimatum: act now or face a future of unprecedented devastation.
Time is running out
Stiell's warning marks an acceleration from previous predictions by climate experts, which they indicated 2030 as the deadline to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent global temperatures from exceeding pre-industrial levels by 1,5 degrees Celsius. Now, according to the UN climate chief, the time we have it was reduced to just two years.
A narrow time window, which leaves no room for hesitation or postponement of any kind.
The consequences of a warmer planet
What would happen if we failed to meet this deadline? The forecasts are alarming to say the least. An increase in global temperatures above 1,5 degrees Celsius it would lead to more violent and lethal storms, more intense and prolonged heat waves, irreparable damage to agriculture and biodiversity.
The most recent data do not bode well. Last year, CO2 emissions related to energy production reached a new historical record, despite the repeated alarms raised by the scientific community. A UN report published in 2022 warns that even if governments around the world meet current global warming mitigation plans, the planet's temperature is set to exceed 2,5 degrees Celsius by 2100. A level well beyond the safety threshold indicated by experts.
Saving the planet, radical solutions on the horizon
Faced with this emergency, science is exploring increasingly radical solutions, from CO2 capture to the controversial and risky techniques of solar geoengineering, which involve (in various ways) spraying particles into the atmosphere to "obscure" the sun and cool the planet. Options still under study, which could bring with it unforeseen negative consequences.
If we don't act now to reduce emissions, we may find ourselves forced to witness these extreme interventions.
A global call to action to save the planet
“Who exactly has two years to save the world?” Stiell asked during his speech. “The answer is every person on this planet.” A global call to action, which calls each of us into question. Because the fight against climate change cannot be delegated only to governments or international institutions, but requires the commitment and mobilization of all citizens of the world.
Simon Stiell's warning is clear: time is running out. We only have two years to save the planet from the brink of climate change and build a sustainable future for generations to come. A huge challenge, which requires an unprecedented effort from all of us.
How to win it?
The idea is that trying to impose choices from above will make us waste more time: and apparently we don't have any.
We have overcome all conversational ambitions, and we cannot afford any more time: for this reason, now more than ever, everyone's contribution is needed. Even skeptics, who deserve an additional effort of clarity and respect from institutions and the scientific community. Data, models and incontrovertible and simple examples must be made available to all citizens of the world.
To avoid conspiracy and rigidity. Are governments, scientists and communicators ready for this work of "communion" with the public? The arduous sentence is no longer for posterity, but for us.
