"3 degrees of global warming would be the end of human civilization"
This is what climate researcher Dr. Schellnhuber said in the ZIB2 interview on December 4, 2023 on the occasion of the climate conference currently taking place in Dubai, the biggest sticking point of which is the phase-out of fossil fuels. He warns urgently that we are heading for a catastrophe if we do not take decisive action now and in the coming years.
"You shouldn't turn a drug dealer into a therapist for addicts," he said on ZIB2 on Monday evening. He takes a critical view of the world climate conferences themselves. These are becoming "increasingly pathetic", the results are "tiny", but suitable for an exchange of ideas. The actual decisions must be made by the states themselves.
Self-interest versus the general interest
One can imagine that under the leadership of an oil-producing country and a board member of an oil company, the phase-out of oil and gas production is to be delayed for as long as possible. The enormous number of lobbyists from the fossil fuel industry at this year's COP also speaks volumes. This is why there is no longer talk of a "phase-out" but a "phase-down" and it is unclear whether the phase-out will even be mentioned as such in the final protocol.
However, according to Schellnhuber, the complete phase-out of fossil fuels by 2050, or actually by 2040, is essential to keep global warming below 2 degrees. In addition to this complete phase-out, existing emissions would also have to be removed from the atmosphere in order to achieve this goal. Al-Jaber is now questioning the first part of this dual strategy, which is "complete nonsense" from a scientific point of view.
The phenomenon of cognitive dissonance
We are driving at full speed against a wall and yet a large proportion of the population is unaware of the drama, as a new survey shows(see our report on this). Scientists have been warning of the consequences of global warming for many years. "With a 3-degree warming, the inner tropics would become uninhabitable. So much so that they would not be able to survive for more than three hours outdoors without air conditioning. Then 2 to 3 billion people would no longer have anywhere to live. At the same time, we have an isolationist policy. If we were to head towards 3 degrees or more, that would be the end of human civilization," Schellnhuber said in the interview. The researcher explains why we are still stepping on the gas instead of hitting the brakes in time with the phenomenon of cognitive dissonance. Instead of taking action and taking the necessary steps, a collective repression sets in. It is a "comfortable feeling of giving up", according to Schellnhuber, which is followed by pain, suffering and death. According to the climate researcher, cognitive dissonance has been observed several times in human history.
Who is Dr. Schellnhuber?
According to Wikipedia, Dr. Hans Joachim Schellnhuber is one of the world's most renowned climate experts. He specializes in climate impact research and earth system analysis. He is a long-standing member of the IPCC - where he was also lead author of the third assessment report, has worked with the World Bank, among others, and is frequently involved in advising politics and business. Schellnhuber was also the founding director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Research (PIK) from 1992.
He is co-author of the book we presented yesterday.
