Planet Earth as we know it today is a world in which the human impact on the environment is so great that we have managed to break the natural balance of our home. Now, according to a study by the International Institute for Applied Analysis Systems (IIASA) we only have a decade to counteract the effects of global warming, thus preventing the average temperature from rising above 2ºC.
If we do nothing, the consequences could be unpredictable.
According to the study, by 2100 fossil fuels should only provide 25 percent of energy what the industry requires. Today the world economy depends on 95% of this energy. This means that, if we do not start to use and take advantage of more renewable energies, which are much cleaner, we will end up living on a much warmer planet. To be more specific, about 3,5ºC warmer.
Michael Obersteine, a co-author of the study, said that Steps must be taken to reduce human-induced carbon dioxide emissions to zero by 2040, otherwise we could not keep the temperature below 2ºC.
The IIASA recommends that everyone become aware of how important it is take care of the earth and the environment so that by the end of this century carbon emissions can drop to 42 percent, which would serve to largely offset the effects of global warming. Still, he added that the situation is so serious that even if actions are taken to protect the environment, temperatures by 2100 will increase by 2,5ºC.
Perhaps it is time to reflect on what we have been doing so far, and what we still have time to do.
You can read the full study here (It is in English).