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Getting to Net Zero – Can we do it? by ClimateYou Senior Editor George Ropes

A very good article entitled What would life be like in a zero-carbon country? by Ivana Kottasova of CNN details what getting to net zero would mean for UK’s citizens. Net zero means the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere is no more than the amount taken out.  Except for Brexit’s damper on the economy, Americans can expect similar effects. Basically, people will be able to adapt, but it will be difficult for some industries to make the transition to zero carbon emissions by 2050. These include agriculture, aviation, and shipping. Some say the cost, perhaps £1 trillion, is too high; others say the risks and costs of the status quo far exceed the costs of transition. Some argue that implementation should be faster; more say faster is not doable. Can the UK government deliver on its promise, given that it wasn’t able to deliver on Brexit? The government has the support of the people for cutting emissions, and faces no major-party opposition as in the US, but it’s capacity and its staying power are very much in question. Time will tell if the UK is able to achieve its ambitious target of net zero emissions by 2050.

Also check out the short, very informative videos posted with this story:

·      Scientists agree: Climate change is man-made

·      The race to save the Great Barrier Reef

·      If coral reefs disappear, so will they

·      When climate change wipes your country off the map

·      What life looks like at ‘Day Zero’

·      Giant iceberg breaks away

·      Al Gore’s 40-year fight against global warming

·      How climate change is changing lives

 

Comment on this article

ClimateYou moderates comments to facilitate an informed, substantive, civil conversation. Abusive, profane, self-promotional, misleading, incoherent or off-topic comments will be rejected. Moderators are staffed during regular business hours (New York time) and can only accept comments written in English.

3 Responses

  1. One scheme that can help the UK get into Net Zero is thru UK companies partnering with 3rd World corporations or co-ops to set up high-profit joint ventures versus global warming. Sample projects for the Philippines: Ethanol distilleries fed by sweet sorghum farms (gross profit above 50%); Agroforests with factories for export production; Mini hydropower nets; Geothermal plants; Biofuels; E85 and electric transports; Forest resorts; Water supply systems; Toll roads, etc. UK companies have the technologies, experience, good name, worldwide contacts and credit worthiness that will attract financing from billion-dollar climate funds at 75% project cost. The projects’ high profits will ensure easy loan repayments, good dividends for investors and perpetual CO2 clean-up of the atmosphere. Tropics-wide expansions should help attain Net Zero way before 2050.

    1. To Francisco Vermin. Thanks for your comment on Getting to Net Zero. Thanks too for your suggestion that UK companies partner with 3rd World corporations and non-profits. The UK would be well-advised to adopt that approach among others. As you suggest, many projects have high profit margins that will redound to achieving the net zero emissions goal. Thanks again. GR–

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