Climate Negotiations In Poland: How Can We Bridge The Gap From Knowledge To Action?
The calls for urgent and immediate climate action are becoming louder and louder.
Climate scientists’ findings from the most recent 1.5-degree Celsius report made it to the broader public, the awareness on climate change is higher than ever before around the world.
The hope is that this will have a real impact on the climate conference in Katowice, Poland.
COP24, UNFCCC
But emissions keep rising.
Scientist revealed on Wednesday that global greenhouse gas emissions are on track to reach their highest levels on record by the end of the year 2018, a 2.7% increase as compared to 1.7% increase in 2017.
How is that possible?
Claim the Climate March,2nd December 2018, Brussels, Belgium
People are marching on the streets asking their governments to pass ambitious climate policies, for example 75,000 people on Sunday before COP24 in the country I live in, Belgium, more than ever before. The government marches along but decided against an improved energy efficiency legislation only days later.
How is that possible?
Last night I dreamed that I was sent to a town near the Baltic sea for my work, and when I arrived I suddenly saw the meter-high waves from the sea, coming right towards us at high speed, taking all houses, people, cars, just everything along. In my dream I thought: “But why did I come here, I should have known better”. Then the waves hit us. Luckily, this was just a dream.
Really, just a dream? Or is it a possible future waiting for us, right in front of our eyes, as long as we follow the road of no-return?
I take it as a warning. The core of our dilemma is not ignorance. The core of our dilemma is that we continue our way of life despite our understanding on what is at stake. Knowledge is not enough to make us change our habits. Our mind can tell our body what to do, but for the body to react, we need to have a strong will. Just the same as when quitting smoking, starting to run, starting a diet, etc.
What shall we do?
One way would be to simply continue doing what we have done so far and fatefully accept that we failed in tackling the climate challenge.
What would your children say?
Climate March Youth, AP
Another way would be to continue trying to change curbing down emissions a little bit, the way that national governments committed to in their nationally determined contributions, which would mean that we accept to fail in tackling climate change a little bit later than in the first option.
What would your grandchildren say?
A third way would be a worldwide climate action revolution, initiated by an ever growing non-violent, inclusive, participatory movement of committed citizens, politicians, scientists, business experts, young and old people.
It is too late for incremental change, as we have 12 years left to curb down emissions considerably. This means that we have no choice but to fully embrace the change that we need to see to get there. This is disruptive change, this will lead to losses for the high carbon emitters, and this will lead to gains for all of us.
Let’s go!
About the Author Katrin Heeren
A professional expert in sustainability, sustainable energy and climate change topics, with over 15 years of work experience in various projects on sustainability and policy related issues, Katrin holds a M.Sc. equivalent degree in geology and completed a post-graduate environmental sciences course in 2010. Katrin worked on national climate policy for the German Federal Environment Agency, on international climate policy and carbon finance as GIZ consultant to the German Federal Environment Ministry, and she was involved in the intergovernmental founding process of the International Renewable Energy Agency in 2008. She is experienced in communicating complex subjects to diverse target groups and especially interested in creative writing and storytelling.