July/August 2007 Living Now
Act Now: It's Possible Stop Global Warming

It's possible to meet energy demand and stop global warming, but only if key decisions are made within the next five years, according to a new report from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

"We can breathe a sigh of relief: it's not too late to save ourselves and our children from the worst ravages of climate change while still meeting the demand for energy," says Richard Mott, vice president for international policy at WWF. "But the report also warns that this opportunity is fleeting. Any delay and our choices become both more difficult and much more expensive."

The world has what it needs now to meet the projected growth in demand for energy. The study showed that known energy sources and today's proven technologies could be used between now and 2050 to meet a projected doubling in global demand for energy. Sustainable technologies also can achieve a 60 to 80 percent drop in carbon dioxide emissions - a necessary step in preventing dangerous climate change.

The report identifies six key solutions:

  • Improving energy efficiency.
  • Stopping forest loss.
  • Accelerating the development of low-emissions technologies.
  • Developing flexible fuels.
  • Replacing high-carbon coal with low-carbon gas.
  • Equipping fossil-fuel plants with carbon capture and storage technology.

The report set a target of limiting the increase in the Earth's average temperatures to two degrees centigrade over pre-industrial levels by 2050 -- compared to 0.7 degrees now - and a 50 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions.

"Those in power today have a unique opportunity, a duty, to avert a catastrophe," says Mott. "Generations to come will face dire consequences if our leaders fail to act within the next five years."

For details on the report, visit www.worldwildlife.org.