Campaigners write letter to Government to urge new solutions for climate change
In a letter written to the Guardian, campaigners have called on the Government to invest in new solutions for climate change.
In a letter written to the Guardian, campaigners have called on the Government to invest in new solutions for climate change.
Greta Thunberg, Craig Bennet and Margaret Atwood were among the signatories for the letter.
The letter urges the Government to champion a ‘thrilling but neglected’ approach to averting climate chaos while defending the living world.
They recommend natural climate solutions, this will encompass drawing carbon dioxide out of the air by protecting and restoring ecosystems. The letter explains that by defending and restoring crucial ecosystems such as forests, salt marshes and natural seabeds, large amounts of carbon can be removed from the air and stored.
They argue that defending the living world and defending the climate is ‘one in the same’, saying “the potential has so far been largely overlooked”.
However, they also highlight the fact that current plans to decarbonise industrial economies is still important. The letter reads: “This approach should not be used as a substitute for the rapid and comprehensive decarbonisation of industrial economies. A committed and well-funded programme to address all the causes of climate chaos, including natural climate solutions, could help us hold the heating of the planet below 1.5C. We ask that they are deployed with the urgency these crises demand.”
Greta Thunberg, Swedish activist who started the climate school strike campaign, took to Twitter to promote the letter.
”Climate and ecological crises can be tackled by restoring forests and other valuable ecosystems.”
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) April 3, 2019
Today we are a few scientists, authors and activists who offer a natural solution to #ClimateBreakdown including @NaomiAKlein @GeorgeMonbiot & @MichaelEMann https://t.co/61ug2nD7VY
This follows the United Nation announcing the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration which offers ‘unparalleled opportunity’ for job creation, food security and addressing climate change. They claim that this restoration could remove up to 26 gigatonnes of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
Read the letter in full here.
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