Climate change: German expert considers 1.5 degree target unattainable

In order to still achieve the 1.5 degree climate target, the meteorologist Sven Plöger believes that radical cuts and an end to almost all private transport are necessary.

Berlin - "We will no longer achieve this goal. Period. Because the radical nature of the steps that would be necessary immediately for 1.5 degrees would probably not go along with any society worldwide", said Plöger to the Rheinische Post.

He gave an example. "We would have to give up almost all private transport immediately. I'm afraid that can hardly be enforced," says the weather expert.

Plöger referred to forecasts by the World Meteorological Organization, according to which there is a 50 percent probability that the 1.5 degree warming compared to the pre-industrial era will already be exceeded by 2026. "If we don't create real climate protection by the end of the century, ten-year droughts in the middle of Europe will become common. Now a five-year drought with a short break is already extraordinary," said Plöger with reference to climate research.

He sees the reality of climate change as not yet sufficiently recognized: "I believe that our society has not yet really understood where we really stand. The developments will still roll over us." A warming of 1.2 degrees has already been reached.

"There is a lot of water on the globe that has a high specific heat capacity, that can absorb a lot of heat. This buffers the temperature rise in the atmosphere. If you only look at the land masses, we are now with a warming of 2 degrees in Europe, in the Alps even more than 2 degrees and in the Arctic, where the ice is retreating, already at 3 degrees," said Plöger. Nevertheless, he campaigned not to lose optimism. "And the physical possibilities are there. Below 2 degrees would really be feasible if we act consistently," the weather expert said.

Source: Der Newsticker