10 Science must-knows on climate change

(Nanowerk News) At the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC / COP23 ) in Bonn, the Earth League and Future Earth hand over a joint statement to UNFCCC executive secretary Patricia Espinosa.
The document (The 10 Science ‘Must Knows’ on Climate Change) compiles the latest and most important knowledge in climate research, economics, and technology, delivering the relevant information to actually implement the achievement of the Paris Agreement.
The Paris Agreement aims to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels” and pursue efforts “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels”. In 2016, global average surface temperature reached about 1.1 °C above pre-industrial levels, making it the warmest year on record1.
Globally averaged concentrations for carbon dioxide (CO2) reached 403.3 parts per million in 2016, up from 400.0 ppm in 2015. This is a record annual increase. The science is clear that meeting the Paris Agreement will require rapidly ridding society of fossil fuels. In addition, the world will have to safeguard and enhance existing carbon sinks, and major efforts will be needed to build societal resilience in the face of unavoidable climate change.
The following statements summarise key scientific insights relating to the Paris Agreement and economic and policy options that would help us reach these goals. These statements show that the climate challenge must be positioned in the larger context of global sustainability. With the 23rd Conference of the Parties taking place in Bonn in November, these statements are intended to provide climate negotiators, policy makers, and business leaders with an evidence-based briefing to advance solutions for a manageable climate future.
Earth League is an international alliance of prominent scientists from world-class research institutions (currently 17 from 11 countries), who look to work together to respond to some of the most pressing issues faced by humankind, as a consequence of climate change, depletion of natural resources, land degradation and water scarcity.
Source: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign