The world faces a growing threat from climate change, and a group of scientists is issuing an urgent call to world leaders. A recent declaration, supported by hundreds of specialists, highlights the need for immediate action to combat global warming.
The Dartington Declaration: Warning and Call to Action
According to the declaration, called the Dartington Declaration, humanity is threatened by a "danger zone". This will happen if greenhouse gas emissions are not halved by 2030 compared to 2010 levels, and then reach zero net level by 2050. The declaration is coordinated by the University of Exeter and WWF UK.
The document is supported by 583 scientists and another 579 people, all holding a PhD or higher. It is in line with a report that warns of the first catastrophic climate tipping point due to the unprecedented extinction of coral reefs.
"If we wait, it will be too late," the declaration says. It appeals to politicians and civil society to unite their efforts. The goal is to prevent the reaching of additional negative tipping points and to take advantage of the opportunities of positive ones.
Focus on Fossil Fuels
The declaration insists on a drastic reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions. For this purpose, a rapid transition from fossil fuels is needed. The UN notes that they are the main factor for global climate change.
These fuels generate about 68% of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90% of all carbon dioxide emissions. Efforts for a future without fossil fuels were delayed at COP30 last month. The final agreement did not include a plan to gradually eliminate these fuels.
The declaration also calls for a rapid increase in the sustainable removal of carbon from the atmosphere. This can be achieved through the protection and restoration of natural carbon sinks, such as forests.
The Danger of Carbon Sinks
If carbon sources are destroyed or deforested, they can release accumulated carbon back into the atmosphere. This is already being observed in parts of the Amazon rainforest, known as the lungs of the Earth. A similar situation is observed in many forests in Africa and Southeast Asia.
Soil is also an important carbon sink. In the top meter, it stores over 2,800 gigatons of carbon. However, the current rates of degradation carry the risk of huge carbon reserves in the soils being released into the atmosphere. This is a rate of 4.81 billion tons of CO₂ each year - approximately the same as the annual emissions of the United States.
Positive Tipping Points and the Future
The declaration calls on world leaders to focus on triggering "positive tipping points". These points can accelerate the transition to low-carbon technologies and behavior, preventing the exceeding of the temperature limit of 1.5°C, as defined by the Paris Agreement.
"An example can be seen in the rapidly falling price and rapid deployment of solar energy and battery storage," the declaration adds. The declaration ends with hope for change, but also with a clear warning about the need for decisive action.
What will be the next steps of world leaders?