The UN just distributed an urgent climate to-do list

As inexpensive as wind and solar are, they can still represent a significant financial investment. This is why the new report highlights that better access to finance, especially for developing countries, would help accelerate climate action.

“Money can’t solve everything, but it is essential to narrowing the gap between those who are most vulnerable and those who enjoy greater security.” said Lee.

2) Reduce methane emissions from fossil fuel production and waste.

Carbon dioxide is the main contributor to climate change, but it is not the only one with effects on global warming. In the short term, methane is about 80 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

Reducing methane emissions over this decade will be key to achieving climate goals and limiting peaks in warming: reaching the 1.5°C target will require methane emissions to fall by a third between 2019 and 2030, according to the IPCC report.

There is a wide range of sources of methane, but some of the main emission reduction targets include oil and gas production and food waste, according to the report.

Investments in new infrastructure to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas could eventually break even: according to the IEA, an annual investment of $11 billion would be needed to clean up the sector, but the value of the captured methane could be more than enough. to cover the cost.

3) Protect natural ecosystems that sequester carbon.

While the majority of man-made greenhouse gas emissions come from transport, energy and buildings, about 20% of global emissions come from agriculture, forestry and changes in land use. lands. The impacts of human-caused climate change “threaten our survival system, nature itself,” Lee said. Conserving and restoring natural ecosystems will not only be essential to preserve biodiversity, it will also have emissions benefits.

Natural ecosystems can sequester and store carbon, and tropical rainforests are among the largest carbon sinks on the planet. Preserving these and other ecosystems could be a low-cost and high-value way to slow climate change.