The 15-degree goal: an achievable goal?

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Das 15-Grad-Ziel ist ein ambitioniertes Streben nach Begrenzung der globalen Erwärmung auf 15 Grad Celsius über dem vorindustriellen Niveau, eine bedeutende Verschärfung des weit verbreiteten 2-Grad-Ziels, das im Pariser Abkommen von 2015 festgelegt wurde. Aber ist dieses 1,5-Grad-Ziel wirklich erreichbar? Wie realistisch ist es, diese Marke zu schaffen? Dieser Artikel beleuchtet das 1,5-Grad-Ziel, die Herausforderungen bei seiner Erreichung und warum es trotzdem wichtig ist. Das 15-Grad-Ziel: Was ist es eigentlich? Um die Ernsthaftigkeit des 15-Grad-Ziels zu verstehen, müssen wir zunächst die wissenschaftlichen Grundlagen der Klimaveränderung betrachten. Das Klimasystem der Erde ist sehr komplex und mit einer erstaunlichen Vielfalt an Interaktionen …
The 15-degree goal: an achievable goal? (Symbolbild/natur.wiki)

The 15-degree goal is an ambitious striving for the limitation of global warming to 15 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level, a significant tightening of the widespread 2-degree goal, which was determined in the Paris Agreement of 2015. But is this 1.5-degree target really accessible? How realistic is it to create this brand? This article illuminates the 1.5-degree goal, the challenges in its achievement and why it is still important.

The 15-degree goal: what is it?

In order to understand the seriousness of the 15-degree goal, we must first consider the scientific foundations of climate change. The earth's climate system is very complex and with an amazing variety of interactions and feedback. An increase in global temperatures can cause a cascade of events, for example the increase in sea level by melting the polar caps, the change in weather patterns, the change in ecosystems and biodiversity and much more.

The 2015 Paris Agreement agreed to limit global warming to well below 20 degrees Celsius compared to the pre-industrial level and continue to strive to limit the increase in temperature to 15 degrees. These numbers seem low, but have dramatic effects on our planetary system.

why 15 degrees?

Maybe you wonder why we are concentrating on the 15-degree goal and not 20 degrees or even the previously widespread 20-degree goal.

Studies show that a reduction in global warming to 15 degrees compared to 20 degrees would have significant advantages. It could significantly reduce the risk of heat waves in most parts of the world. It could also significantly reduce the number of people who are exposed to extreme drought, and it would have a significantly lower impact on melting glaciers and the increase in sea level.

The effects of stronger warming

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global warming of 20 degrees would cause significant and widespread damage to ecosystems, management and health systems. This would lead to a drastic increase in sea levels, make heat waves more often and stronger and impair food production worldwide.

How do we reach the 15-degree goal?

Reaching the 15-degree goal could be one of the greatest challenges of our time. It requires significant changes in almost all areas of society, especially in the way we produce and consume energy.

emission reduction

The most important aspect in achieving the 15-degree goal is the drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Most of our emissions come from the consumption of fossil fuels in the form of coal, oil and natural gas, which are used for electricity generation, for heating, industry and in traffic.

Renewable energies

In order to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions, we have to significantly increase the use of renewable energies, including wind energy, solar energy, hydropower and biomass. Renewable energies emit far less carbon dioxide than fossil fuels and can slow down the greenhouse effect.

energy efficiency

It is also important to increase energy efficiency. This means that we have to get more out of the energy we consumed. Energy efficiency can be improved in many areas, from buildings to vehicles to industrial plants and household appliances.

is the 15-degree goal at all available?

Unfortunately, the answer to this question is not easy. Some experts believe that the 15-degree goal is already outside of our range, at least on the head of current political willpower and technological progress.

The challenges

The challenges we are facing are enormous. In order to achieve the 15-degree goal, we would have to start reducing our greenhouse gas emissions almost immediately and reaching practically zero until around 2040-2050. This requires a complete conversion of Fossil's global energy system to renewable, a drastic improvement in energy efficiency and presumably also the use of technologies for CO2 removal.

In addition, there are also the so -called "political inertia", which means that the political measures are not implemented at the necessary speed, especially in the most strongest industrialized countries that make up the largest proportion of global emissions.

FAZIT

The 15-degree goal is an important but extremely demanding endeavor. Significant changes and unprecedented commitment on the part of the political decision -makers around the world are necessary for his achievement. Although the challenges are immense and the way there is full difficulties, science shows that there is no realistic alternative if we want to receive the planet for future generations. At the same time, the pursuit of this goal also contains an opportunity: it could pave the way for a more sustainable and just world, in which renewable energies and energy efficiency are not only seen as a means of reducing emission, but also as a driving force for economic growth and development.