Fallacy 3: The 1.5 degree centigrade target provides a safe limit
Description
This episode questions the concept of a ‘safe limit’. Is this safe for people living at subsistence levels in developing countries? Or is it safe for people living in the major, western cities. Is it safe for the next 5 years or is it safe for future of generations yet to be born? Is it safe for all ecosystems around the world, or maybe just for some of them?
There is a risk that even minimal rises in global temperatures could trigger natural feedback loops that might take the climate to an irreversible tipping point. Do we know where the tipping point is, or are we hoping that it is still some way off? There is a risk that we might already be dangerously close to the tipping point without knowing it.
The global response to the climate crisis should adopt the ‘precautionary principle’. (i.e. If there is a degree of uncertainty, we should err on the side of caution). However, this does not appear to be the case.
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