The recent United Nations climate change report states the global temperature rise needs to be kept lower than 1.5 degrees Celsius to prevent a catastrophic global climate change. Now, this target seems unlikely to be achieved, due to the following three major factors: War, Politics, and Business.
War
In some parts of the world, war is still raging. Thousands of people have been killed and governments are still destroying each other. This war has caused untold destruction to the environment. Wars are responsible for the destruction of thousands of acres of land and wildlife which leads to these areas becoming habitually inhospitable for the flora and fauna, eventually leading to irreparable damage.
Politics
Politics is a major factor in determining whether or not countries will achieve their goals related to global warming. If a country’s government is unwilling to take decisive action, this will greatly impede efforts to reduce global warming. This is especially true in countries that are heavily reliant on fossil fuels, such as oil and gas. In addition, countries may be unwilling to act because of economic considerations.
Business
Business is the last factor affecting our progress toward meeting the 1.5 degree Celsius target. Businesses have been known to invest in industries that are harmful to the environment, such as oil and gas. This means that businesses are not doing enough to reduce their carbon emissions and as a result, global warming will be difficult to contain.
In conclusion, it is clear that the three factors of War, Politics, and Business make it highly unlikely that the 1.5 degree Celsius target will be met. We must all take action to reduce our carbon emissions and international cooperation is essential in order to ensure the survival of our planet. As global leaders attempt to reach a unified agreement to combat the climate crisis, it has become increasingly clear that a target of 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature increase is unlikely. War, politics, and business have all become major obstacles in the global effort to reach this target.
The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris in 2015 set the goal of limiting the rise of global temperatures to 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels. Yet, much has changed since then, and the goal appears to be more unattainable than ever.
The deteriorating global climate and environment are already obvious after only 1 degree Celsius of warming. War, however, has further diminished the hope of being able to limit the damage of global warming. Neither the United Nations nor anyone else is able to guarantee physical enjoyment of the international agreements made in Paris to tackle the climate crisis. Thus, when military forces, or threats of war, occupy a country or are ever present, negotiations between governments on global action to stop climate change suffer.
Politics has been a major obstacle to implementing the Paris Agreement and limiting global temperature change to 1.5 degrees C. Many countries agreed to implement a carbon dioxide reduction of 2.7% without any enforcement provisions. In addition, those in opposition to reducing emissions of carbon dioxide have put forth arguments of economic protectionism and job market security.
Businesses also present a major roadblock in an effort to achieve the 1.5 degree Celsius goal. This is because business leaders are mainly concerned with maintaining their short-term gains and profits. Climate change is an issue of long-term consequences and so, businesses are far more likely to invest in other opportunities. As a result, there is less investment in the short-term and cost effective solutions necessary for global warming prevention, adaptation and mitigation.
In conclusion, the target of 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature increase has become increasingly less attainable due to the frequent and persistent hindrances our world faces. War, politics, and business have all served to be major obstacles in an effort to reach the global goal. Thus, it is now more important than ever to focus on the solutions needed to reduce the effects of climate change or else much of the world may be facing a future of grave environmental peril.