Jonathon Berman, jonathon.berman@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC -- Today, the UN released its annual “emissions gap” report, which detailed that global temperatures are set to rise by nearly 4 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. If governments fail to act, scientists note this could result in global catastrophic effects, including coastal cities being inundated with flooding, unbearable severe heat, and coral reefs potentially dissolving. According to the report, emissions must begin falling by 7.6 percent each year, beginning in 2020, to meet the aims of the Paris Climate Agreement.
Separately, on Monday, the World Meteorological Organization released its Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, which found that globally averaged concentrations of CO2 and atmospheric methane rose significantly last year.
Earlier this year, it was found that greenhouse gas emissions in the United States spiked after years of decline.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
“Donald Trump’s abdication of presidential responsibilities has failed the American people and the world. For generations, the United States was helping lead the global effort to tackle the climate crisis while creating millions of good paying clean energy jobs. Instead of continuing that work, Trump chose to do the bidding of the corporate polluters who created this crisis, fostering conditions that saw the first increase in emissions in over a decade. The American people demand climate action and they deserve a leader who will put them -- not the fossil fuel industry -- first."
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.