Paris Climate Talks Avoid Scientists’ Idea of ‘Carbon Budget’

Paris Climate Talks Avoid Scientists’ Idea of ‘Carbon Budget’

The suggestion of a carbon budget was made in 2013 by a series of scientific papers and is the idea that the amount of emissions we can use without significantly damaging the environment should be split between all countries. One way to think of it is like having a pie and needing to divide it, but the question is, how much do you give each country? Do you base it on size or use of fossil fuels already? Scientists believe that the cap of emissions would be reached when after calculating the total amount of carbon emissions and other green house gases the temperature of the earth could only increase 3.6 degrees fahrenheit. At 3.6 degrees the sea level would still increase by 20 feet but over an extended period of time, anything about 3.6 would result in high sea levels, catastrophic heat waves, and difficulty producing food. The article, however, went on to discuss how the carbon budget will not be considered at the Paris Climate Conference because it will be shut down immediately. The politics involving divvying up the amount of emissions that each country could use would be close to impossible and also very difficult to enforce. Countries have made their own carbon emission limiting plans yet none of them are drastic enough. Even if Europe, America, and China fulfill their plans, together they will use all of the emissions leaving none for any other countries. Scientists say earth’s only hope is that more country’s limiting plans are used and as time goes on begin even more drastic. 

This is important to all of us because it is going to effect our earth and the way we and our offspring live very soon. Many people don’t realize just how severe this situation is and that if we continue using fossil fuels at the rate we are, the world will not be able to sustain us for much longer. Ocean levels will increase, natural disasters will occur much more frequently, and temperatures will continue to rise causing droughts and fires. The United States emits the second largest amount of fossil fuels following China. As Americans we need to work to ensure that generations will have a future by pressuring the government to take drastic measures in limiting our amount of emissions. 

The article was very clear in explaining the concept of a carbon budget and why it was not working. The only thing I would improve is that it really did not give any suggestions or ways to improve the environment. The article was depressing in that it said we were pretty much doomed, unless as a world we could decide on a carbon budget plan which they later explained was close to impossible.  This only gives one side of the story and there are other scientists who have a more optimistic view of our future. Overall, I thought it very informative because I learned a new perspective on climate change and more about the Paris Climate Conference. 

Gillis, Justin. "Paris Climate Talks Avoid Scientists’ Idea of ‘Carbon Budget’." The New York Times. The New York Times, 28 Nov. 2015. Web. 29 Nov. 2015. <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/29/science/earth/paris-climate-talks-avoid-scientists-goal-of-carbon-budget.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fscience&action=click&contentCollection=science®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront>.