Carbon dioxide emissions would need to reach net zero by 2050 to avoid the worst effects of climate change
To avoid the most dangerous and irreversible effects of climate change, the world would need to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. That means carbon emissions would need to reach net zero by 2050, a significant deviation from the path we are on now.
To explore the interactive, see “The 1.5-degree challenge,” September 16, 2020.
Companies need to weatherise their supply chains
The semiconductor industry—whose supply chains are highly concentrated in regions with an increasing probability of disruptive climate hazards—provides a good example of why all companies should rethink their supply chains. A downstream semiconductor company that prepares its supply chain for severe weather could preserve a lot more of its sales should a major storm hit.
To read the article, see “Could climate become the weak link in your supply chain?,” August 6, 2020.
True zero-emissions cars are possible only if carmakers and customers decide they are worth the added cost
As tailpipe emissions decline, the auto industry needs to understand how much it will cost to decarbonize production of the materials that go into electric cars (such as aluminium, plastics, and batteries). Then they have to decide how much added cost they—and their customers—are willing to bear on the path to zero emissions.
To read the article, see “The zero-carbon car: Abating material emissions is next on the agenda,” September 18, 2020.
Carbon capture, use, and storage could create significant ‘negative emissions’ by 2030
Capturing the CO2 produced by hard-to-abate sectors—such as cement and steel production—helps prevent it from being released into the atmosphere. Then it can be stored or used for making fuel, cement, plastics, or a range of other materials.
To read the article, see “Driving CO2 emissions to zero (and beyond) with carbon capture, use, and storage,” June 30, 2020.
By 2050, extreme heat could ground 23 times more airline passengers than today
Extreme heat already disrupts global air travel, grounding about 4000 to 8000 passengers per year today. If airlines and airplanes don’t adapt to the changing climate, up to 185,000 passengers could be grounded per year by 2050.
To read the article, see “Will infrastructure bend or break under climate stress?,” August 19, 2020.