Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Win-win solutions
With multiple global challenges in the 21st century, action on climate change should al-
ways contain an element of win-win. For example, supporting a huge increase in renewable
energy not only reduces emissions but helps to provide a country with energy security by
reducing the reliance on imported oil, coal, and gas. Reduced deforestation and increased
reforestation should not only draw down additional carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
but it will help to retain biodiversity, stabilize soils and local rainfall, and provide liveli-
hoods for local people via carbon credits. Measures that reduce car use will increase walk-
ing and cycling, which in turn will reduce obesity and heart attacks. Ensuring that women
are educated to at least secondary school level all around the world will empower them to
take control of their own fertility, and this in turn will help to stabilize population growth
and pressures on development. No one can object to creating a better world, even if we are
extremely lucky and the scale of climate change is at the low end of all projections. This
point is beautifully illustrated by a cartoon drawn by Joel Prett that was first published in
USA Today
in 2009, concerning the Copenhagen Conference (see
Figure 42
). What climate
change does do is to challenge our view of the future and show us that more of the same
will not work. What is required is a new vision of our world and how people can have full
access to fundamental rights such as: clean air and water, a nutritionally balanced diet, suit-
able housing, free healthcare, free education, and full employment.
