We can afford to save the world – but we must be quick, says report
February 1st 2009 Holding temperature rises below 2°C to reduce climate change is possible according to a new report from global consultancy Mckinsey, but we only have a window of about five to ten years to act.
With consensus to reduce greenhouse gas emissions now widespread, Pathways to a Low Carbon Economy attempts to provide a quantitative basis for discussions over the technical and economic feasibility of different target levels, what emission reduction opportunities should be pursued, and the costs of different options for meeting the targets.
Ten global companies and organisations have supported MckInsey & Company in producing the report – The Carbon Trust, ClimateWorks, Enel, Entergy, Holcim,Honeywell, Shell,Vattenfall, Volvo, WWF – has assessed more than 200 GHG abatement opportunities across 10 major sectors and 21 world regions between now and 2030. The analysis finds that:
• The potential exists to reduce GHG emissions by just enough to stay on track until 2030 to contain global warming below 2°C
• Opportunities can be grouped into three categories of technical measures: energy efficiency, low–carbon energy supply, and terrestrial carbon.
• Capturing all the potential will be a major challenge: it will require change on a massive scale, strong global cross-sectoral action and commitment, and a strong policy framework
• Costs and investments seem manageable at a global level but are likely to be challenging for individual sectors.
• Delays in action of even 10 years would mean missing the 2°C target
The full report can be downloaded by visiting:www.mckinsey.com More articles from WEE News Desk: | 
