11
11
2
Paris Agreement on Climate Change
Abstract
There has been significant progress since 2015, when the Paris Agreement on
Climate Change was adopted. Consistent with the goals of the Agreement,
many coal-fired plants have been retired, as the costs of electricity from solar
photovoltaic systems and wind power have decreased to being less expensive than electricity from coal. Most of the new electricity-generating capacity that is being developed and put into service is from renewable wind
and solar systems. There is still far to go, however. Trillions of dollars can be
saved by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reaching the state where
carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere are no longer increasing.
There are also many benefits associated with the transition to zero carbon
emissions and steady state concentrations of greenhouse gases. Advances in
science and technology that reduce the costs of electric vehicles and battery
storage contribute to reaching the goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate
Change.
2.1 Introduction
Climate change is a fact of life in today’s world, but what are the implications
of those changes? This chapter reviews what climate change means for
people right now, what it will mean for future generations, and what needs
to be done to avert those consequences. It is very important to understand
how the climate is changing and how it is affecting life on Earth. Although
it is a very significant future concern, present events influenced by climate
change are already of great importance. Human suffering is already being
inflicted by the influences of climate change on hurricanes, wildfires, floods,
droughts, sea level rise, and increased temperatures. The problems posed by
climate change are well established, but the actions taken so far to address
these problems are inadequate.
11
2
Paris Agreement on Climate Change
Abstract
There has been significant progress since 2015, when the Paris Agreement on
Climate Change was adopted. Consistent with the goals of the Agreement,
many coal-fired plants have been retired, as the costs of electricity from solar
photovoltaic systems and wind power have decreased to being less expensive than electricity from coal. Most of the new electricity-generating capacity that is being developed and put into service is from renewable wind
and solar systems. There is still far to go, however. Trillions of dollars can be
saved by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reaching the state where
carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere are no longer increasing.
There are also many benefits associated with the transition to zero carbon
emissions and steady state concentrations of greenhouse gases. Advances in
science and technology that reduce the costs of electric vehicles and battery
storage contribute to reaching the goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate
Change.
2.1 Introduction
Climate change is a fact of life in today’s world, but what are the implications
of those changes? This chapter reviews what climate change means for
people right now, what it will mean for future generations, and what needs
to be done to avert those consequences. It is very important to understand
how the climate is changing and how it is affecting life on Earth. Although
it is a very significant future concern, present events influenced by climate
change are already of great importance. Human suffering is already being
inflicted by the influences of climate change on hurricanes, wildfires, floods,
droughts, sea level rise, and increased temperatures. The problems posed by
climate change are well established, but the actions taken so far to address
these problems are inadequate.