Why are we in a hurry to reduce emissions?

Articles about climate change often emphasise the urgency of climate action, and the window of opportunity for curbing climate change is closing fast. Why is this?

Greenhouse gases are stored in the atmosphere. As a result, the atmosphere will continue to warm for years after fossil fuels have been completely phased out. The effects we are seeing today are the result of emissions generated decades ago, and the impact of the emissions and decisions that we make today will be seen only decades and generations from now.

The IPCC* has estimated that humanity has only a few years to drastically reduce emissions to avoid the worst consequences. Giving precise time estimates is impossible, however, and the main purpose of the estimates is to show the urgency of concrete actions. The longer we postpone reducing emissions, the more measures are needed in the short term to meet the climate targets.

We need to take climate action now – both in our daily lives and in society at large. Let’s start the Climate Workout together!

*IPCC is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Established in 1988, the IPCC is a body made up of leading experts in the field of climate science whose mission is to gather and assess scientific knowledge on anthropogenic global warming and its effects.