Only if drastic measures are taken quickly can global warming be kept at an acceptable level, warns German climate researcher Mojib Latif. The limit of 1.5 degrees has long been exceeded.
“I find it absolutely ridiculous that world politics still clings to the 1.5 degree target,” Latif told the Bavarian media group on Tuesday. “That was actually broken a long time ago.”
According to Latif, there have already been “many months, including a period of twelve months”, in which the 1.5 degree limit was exceeded. “So it is something of a denial of reality if you continue to invoke this target value.” “We are also breaking the two-degree barrier,” says Latif.
Climate conferences “not productive”
The statements at the most recent world climate conferences did not convey the will to do this, criticized the scientist teaching in Kiel. “After 28 previous world climate conferences, more than a quarter of a century, no real breakthrough has been achieved, although year after year we hear about new historic breakthroughs.”
The UN climate conference COP29 starts this year on November 11 in the Azerbaijani capital Baku. Latif called the expected presentation of national climate protection plans and the promise of higher aid for poor countries a “cure for the symptoms”. The climate conferences “will never lead to any goal. “You can eat your way to death,” he said with conviction. “The motto should be: act instead of negotiate.”
After all, the conferences repeatedly drew public attention around the world to the issue of climate. “That should not be underestimated,” Latif continued. “Second, at least once a year, we listen to poor countries about what the issue of climate change means for them. In addition, attention is drawn to new technologies that can help tackle the problem.” But the conferences fell short of the real goal of significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Crises and wars overshadow climate change
Overall, the researcher sees climate policy as an outlier due to the many crises and wars in the world. “In Germany, the other political parties, perhaps apart from the Greens, have largely lost the courage to protect the climate,” Latif lamented. “This shows me that the issue is still not being taken seriously, even though the signals in the form of extreme weather and disasters are increasing.”
Source: Krone
I am an experienced and passionate journalist with a strong track record in news website reporting. I specialize in technology coverage, breaking stories on the latest developments and trends from around the world. Working for Today Times Live has given me the opportunity to write thought-provoking pieces that have caught the attention of many readers.
