GUEST BLOG
Is Net Zero Dead?
Dan Cope: Ambassador for the Environment
The term “net zero” has become a hotbed of political debate, but should it be? For a long time, we managed to sidestep the politicisation of climate change to a large degree, while for some of our allies, this has been a political burning issue for decades. Even as recently as 2019, countless local authorities, including Buckinghamshire Council, declared a climate emergency, recognising the reality we face.
Sadly, this consensus appears in jeopardy. Many are weighing in on a topic that they largely don’t understand, including the economic benefits of working towards a net zero future. Climate change is a pressing reality, regardless of the terminology we use. The debate over net zero terminology distracts us from the urgent need for action. Whether we call it “net zero” or something else, the science remains clear: our planet is warming, and we must act now, or face the consequences.
For me, net zero has always had a much larger meaning than the technical term – a balance between the amount of greenhouse gases emitted and the amount removed from the atmosphere. To me, net zero, climate change mitigation, decarbonisation – these terms can be swapped out as you like, it makes little difference.
And if net zero is the equation, global warming is the reaction. Whether we acknowledge it or not, political discourse has no impact on the effects it brings with it. Last year, we faced temperature rises of 1.5°C from pre-industrial levels. As these temperatures tick up, so do the outcomes…
1.5°C Rise – You are here!
2°C Rise
- More than a quarter of the world’s population experiencing an additional month of severe heat stress annually.
- Increased incidence of heat-related illnesses and deaths, particularly among vulnerable populations such as the elderly and children.
- Increased risk of wildfires, leading to widescale loss of homes and displacement.
- Droughts and heavy rainfall, disrupting agriculture and water supplies.
3°C Rise (Our current trajectory)
- Cities facing month-long heat waves, increasing energy demand for cooling and straining power grids.
- 600 million people exposed to flooding from rising sea levels, leading to displacement and loss of livelihoods.
- Significant drops in food production, with yields of major crops like wheat and rice plummeting.
- Increased spread of vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.
4°C Rise
- Coastal cities facing severe flooding, displacing millions of people and causing economic chaos.
- Substantially exacerbated water scarcity, affecting drinking water supplies and agriculture.
- Irreversible loss of biodiversity, including coral reef systems.
- Extreme tropical cyclones and unprecedented heat waves, leading to widespread destruction and loss of life.
- Significant rates of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases due to increased air pollution and heat stress.
Pretty stark.
While the debate will continue to rage on, it is crucial to remember that the most vulnerable in society will endure the worst of climate change. Nationally, marginalised groups – including low-income families, the elderly, and children will be at extreme risk. The health impacts of climate change – such as increased respiratory and cardiovascular diseases – will proportionately affect these vulnerable populations. Globally, communities in developing countries face severe threats from rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and food insecurity.
So, let us focus on the facts and solutions rather than getting bogged down in political arguments. As much as I would like to think so, my voice holds no weight in this argument… so whose does? Sir David Attenborough’s.
“How could I look my grandchildren in the eye and say I knew what was happening to the world and did nothing.” – Sir David Attenborough
Ignoring the urgency of net zero climate change goals means neglecting those who need our help the most. It is about safeguarding our future and ensuring that everyone, regardless of their socio-economic status, has a chance to thrive in a changing world.
Read more guest blogs here.
Meet all of our ambassadors here.
