Carbon Reduction Pledges Aren't Enough to Avoid Dangerous Warming

December 4, 2014- Despite several countries’ recent pledges to cut back on carbon dioxide emissions, the planet is still far from preventing a dangerous level of man-made, global warming, a new U.N. report says.

The report looks at the gap between the steps that countries have promised to take and what scientists say needs to be done to prevent temperatures rising another two degrees. The two-degree level is a goal that world leaders set in 2009.

"The time window (for reaching that goal) is closing, closing," said U.N. undersecretary for environment Achim Steiner.

To meet it, the world has to hit a peak of carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases before 2030, said the report's chief scientific editor, Joseph Alcamo. But the study says carbon emissions will continue to soar until 2050. By then, it will be too late.

Countries need to act quickly. Steiner said because of the dangers of a warmer world, it’s not wise to abandon the two-degree goal.

Read the full startribune.com post here.

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