The world has a set a goal of limiting global warming to just 2 degrees Celsius of average temperature rise, but according to one climate scientist that may not be enough, and he is not alone.
Discussions on global warming were held as a part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Lima, Peru in December, 2014. During those discussions, some climate scientists raised their concerns about allowing the climate to warm by 2 degrees Celsius. Some scientists suggest that the global warming target is inadequate and should instead be placed at just 1.5 degrees Celsius or even lower instead of the 2 degrees Celsius target.
Experts claim that leaving it at the 2 degree limit may still lead to shifts in weather patterns, an increase in sea levels, heat waves, floods, droughts, and other extreme natural events especially in the tropics, polar regions and high mountain areas.
Petra Tschakert, the lead author of the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, believes that the current target may pose a threat to both livelihoods and ecosystems.
"A low temperature target is the best bet to prevent severe, pervasive, and potentially irreversible impacts while allowing ecosystems to adapt naturally, ensuring food production and security, and enabling economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner," Tschakert says.
According to Tschakert, the goal of limited the change to 2 degrees Celsius originated in the 1970s and was finally sanctioned as goal in 2009 during climate talks in Copenhagen. While many countries have gotten behind this target, many scientists believe it should be much lower.
The World Health Organization, for example, believes that no target that allows for warming is safe for human health stating that the change we have already experienced here on Earth is taking its toll on the health of millions of people around the world.
While some researchers, like Tschakert, believe the target should be reduced to 1.5 degrees Celsius, other scientists criticize this goal stating there is a lack of sufficient research to justify the benefits of a 1.5 degree target.
However, supports of the change believe that lowered the target could reduce the risk of a rising sea level saving major coral systems in the process and allow the ice of the Arctic to remain intact.
Tschakert says that all countries including both developing and developed, need to address the issue of global warming now and not wait until it is directly affected by the results of global warming.
For now, the 2 degree target remains although it is being re-evaluated. But there is no indication that there are plans to reduce the target to 1.5 degrees Celsius at this time.
