The largest ever annual emissions of carbon, published today in the Guardian, put mankind dangerously close a pathway that will lead to temperature rises of drastic scale.

Lord Nick Stern: ”These figures indicate that [emissions] are now close to being back on a ‘business as usual’ path. According to the [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's] projections, such a path … would mean around a 50% chance of a rise in global average temperature of more than 4C by 2100,” he said.

“Such warming would disrupt the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people across the planet, leading to widespread mass migration and conflict. That is a risk any sane person would seek to drastically reduce.”

Faith Birol, Chair of the International Energy Agency said disaster could yet be averted, if governments heed the warning. “If we have bold, decisive and urgent action, very soon, we still have a chance of succeeding,” he said.

Let’s call time on fear and procrastination, and the idea that it’ll all be OK is someone pulls it together. It’s time to kick into gear. Get the first 1% of your employees up to speed by the end of this year, and double it next. Douse them with innovation juice, then stand back. There will be some serious conversations about catalysing change at Fforest this year, sparked by the care, compassion and insight of 100 of the best people I’ll ever meet.

via Worst ever carbon emissions leave climate on the brink | Environment | The Guardian