The world, the universe and us Weekly: COP29: Are UN climate summits failing us and our planet?
22 snips
Nov 15, 2024 
In this episode, climate reporter Madeleine Cuff provides crucial insights on COP29 and the alarming rise in global carbon emissions. She discusses the impact of corruption on climate negotiations and critiques the current focus on adaptation over mitigation. The conversation also highlights the unsettling reality of exceeding the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold. Meanwhile, fascinating topics such as bird migration and the ecological benefits of gophers enrich the discussion, showcasing nature's resilience amid climate challenges.
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1.5°C Target: Rhetoric vs. Reality
- The 1.5°C warming limit rhetoric at COP summits drives momentum, but it's scientifically unlikely without overshoot.
- Two British scientists suggest we've already passed 1.49°C warming based on a pre-1700s baseline.
Caspian Sea: A Case Study in Climate Vulnerability
- COP29's location, Azerbaijan, highlights climate vulnerability; the Caspian Sea region faces severe sea level decline.
- This decline threatens unique ecology, oil/gas infrastructure, and economies, underscoring the urgency of climate action.
Rethinking COP: Climate Clubs and Adaptation Focus
- Rupert Read argues the COP process, designed to fail, should be replaced by climate clubs and a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty.
- He suggests accepting the 1.5°C target's demise and prioritizing transformative adaptation to drive mitigation.
