Background: Today the IPCC is delayed in releasing its Working Group 3 report updating mitigation pathways for reducing greenhouse gas emission. The report is set to focus on mitigating the climate crisis and likely will point out that we are heading quickly towards a global rise in temperature of 1.5 °C. We already know that current national commitments for mitigation of GHG emissions would not prevent a rise above 1.5 °C.
This new information comes at a critical moment on climate for the United States while discussions around ‘energy security’ risk policies that would backslide into more extraction when a managed decline of the fossil fuel industry is necessary and investment in a circulate transition minerals economy is urgently needed.
Statement from Lauren Pagel, Earthworks Policy Director:
“We are headed in the wrong direction, fast. Solutions to solve this crisis exist but political courage and policy creativity are lacking.
“President Biden must immediately declare a climate emergency to ramp down oil and gas extraction and limit its harmful methane pollution. This report is all the evidence he needs.”
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