Climate report sets deadline for zero carbon emissions

Using data from previous reports, the 116-page Synthesis Report warns global greenhouse emissions need to drop to zero by 2100 to avoid irreversible damage to our planet's atmosphere.

While some of that damage will be to the environment, the report also warns of food and water shortages, increased displacement of people, increased poverty and coastal flooding.

If we go the next 86 years without effectively cutting emissions, the report warns a 2-degree celsius rise in global temperature will be unavoidable.

That 2-degree number was decided back at a 2009 Copenhagen Climate Conference as the maximum rise in global temps before climate change starts having disastrous affects.

But even with the warnings of irreversible climate change or its disastrous effects, the report says as long as world leaders act now, the prospects of the Earth's future won't be so gloomy.

A Wesleyan University professor who participated in the drafting the report told The Washington Post "It's not too late, but the longer you wait, the more expensive it gets."

A BBC science editor says nations' attitudes seem to have changed since 2009's less-than-stellar Copenhagen summit and that next year's summit in Paris may actually be more productive.

And last week IPCC Chairman Rajendra Pachauri offered some optimism, saying, "May I humbly suggest that policymakers avoid being overcome by the seeming hopelessness of addressing climate change. It is not hopeless. This is not to say it will be easy."

While the IPCC suggests 2100 as the target for reaching zero emissions, it's up to the nations themselves to implement the policies required to reach that deadline. The next meeting on climate change is due to take place in Lima, Peru, this December.

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