Paris Climate Agreement Demands a Radical Transformation Rather Than Risky Technologies for Climate Protection

One week ahead of the coming-into-force of the Paris Climate Agreement, the German Catholic Bishops' Organisation for Development Cooperation (MISEREOR), Friends of the Earth Germany (BUND), and the Heinrich Boll Foundation are calling for the implementation of effective climate change policies in the context of a profound and fair socio-economic transformation of our societies. A fast phasing-out of coal, a drastic reduction of emissions in agriculture and transportation, the protection of soils and forests, and the abandoning of fossil fuels in the transportation sector need to be taken up urgently.

In their joint publication, "A change of course: How to build a fair future in a 1.5 degree world," the three organizations present the dangers posed by global warming to food security and ecosystems and analyze so-called negative emission technologies such as geoengineering, offsetting of emissions, and BECCS (bioenergy with carbon capture and storage). In contrast to these questionable technologies, the policies to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees - as stipulated in the Paris Agreement - that are presented in the joint publication are not only geared toward climate mitigation but also put poverty reduction and climate justice at the center of attention.

"In reaction to the Paris Agreement, we need to phase out coal, speed up the transition to renewables, phase out combustion engines, and protect and restore forests and soils. As northern countries that have caused the climate catastrophe, we need to lead by example. We cannot count on unproven, costly, and ecologically risky negative emission technologies to save us from climate chaos. If we postpone implementing the traditional climate mitigation solutions, we will miss the rapidly closing window of opportunity to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees," says Hubert Weiger, Chairman of Friends of the Earth Germany.

Barbara Unmussig, President of the Heinrich Boll Foundation, says: "It is crystal clear that effective climate protection and equitable, sustainable development can only be considered together. A future without climate chaos for all human beings on our planet is only possible if we don't pin our hopes on large-scale technologies. Instead, we have to make sure that the energy and agricultural transitions are being pushed forward as fast as possible. Technological fixes such as geoengineering are betting on future possibilities such as sucking CO2 from the atmosphere or keeping sunlight away from the Earth. This is a dangerous distraction from the necessary steps that we can already implement today. The coming-into-force of the Paris Agreement asks for exactly this change in course."

"The vague hope that we could all survive in a world that is 3 degrees warmer than before industrialization is deceptive. It is our responsibility to safeguard the lives of millions of people by limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. This is not only a technological challenge; instead, it has widespread societal and cultural implications that we all have to face," says Pirmin Spiegel, Director General, MISEREOR.

The publication "A change of course: How to build a fair future in a 1.5 degree world" can be downloaded here: www.bund.net/cop22 [1]