Exclusive: Planet is headed for at least 2.5C of heating with disastrous results for humanity, poll of hundreds of scientists finds

Planet is headed for at least 2.5C of heating with disastrous results for humanity, poll of hundreds of scientists finds

Hundreds of the world’s leading climate scientists expect global temperatures to rise to at least 2.5C (4.5F) this century, blasting past internationally agreed targets and causing catastrophic consequences for humanity and the planet, an exclusive Guardian survey has revealed.

Almost 80% of the respondents, all from the authoritative Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), foresee at least 2.5C of global heating above preindustrial levels, while almost half anticipate at least 3C (5.4F). Only 6% thought the internationally agreed 1.5C (2.7F) limit will be met.

Many of the scientists envisage a “semi-dystopian” future, with famines, conflicts and mass migration, driven by heatwaves, wildfires, floods and storms of an intensity and frequency far beyond those that have already struck.

Numerous experts said they had been left feeling hopeless, infuriated and scared by the failure of governments to act despite the clear scientific evidence provided.

  • blazera@lemmy.worldEnglish
    24·
    6 months ago

    Ah no, see i specified SUVs. By a large margin most new vehicles sold are large SUVs https://www.motortrend.com/news/best-selling-cars-trucks-suvs-in-america-2023/

    I know about the emissions standards exception for trucks and SUVs, its shitty. But there are still new cars being sold, cars that dont qualify for the more relaxed emissions standard, cars with a much higher mpg as a result, that cost less than the larger SUVs they are buying instead. Mitsubishi mirage or nissan versa are 2 that pop up. If consumers wanted smaller cars, that’s what we would have.

    • SoleInvictus@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      3·
      6 months ago

      Keep in mind that the limited variety of smaller vehicles sold is an issue.

      For example, I drive a Prius. I decided I’d like to upgrade to a nicer PHEV car, so I looked at Lexus’s offerings. It’s almost all SUVs, with the only PHEV being an SUV. The luxury equivalent to the Prius exists, it just isn’t sold in the United States due to low demand for smaller vehicles.

      We’re not ready to jump to an electric vehicle yet, so I continue to drive my Prius and will drive it into the ground, despite it being pretty loud on the freeway.

      • [email protected]@sh.itjust.works
        2·
        6 months ago

        Trying to find an AWD, non-SUV vehicle that doesn’t require high octane (let alone a PHEV) was like a pipedream when I needed to replace our old Impreza.

    • tmsbrdrs2@lemmy.world
      31·
      6 months ago

      Having driven a Nissan Versa, they aren’t fun on the freeway, country roads or anywhere you’d be around anything the size of a standard SUV or current truck.

      • blazera@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        6 months ago

        I think thats a lot of how we got here in the first place, the problem isnt the versa, its the big ass trucks and SUVs. People dont wanna get crushed by these monsters, so they get their own suburban tank. And every year the arms race of SUVs big enough to feel safe in gets worse. Thats just the American way, making life dangerous for everyone else so you can feel safe.

        • [email protected]@sh.itjust.works
          1·
          6 months ago

          Grown-ass adults barely clear the hood of the huge trucks they sell these days.
          A few years ago, a pedestrian getting hit by a truck would have a somewhat decent chance of rolling on top of the sloped frontend, which is much less deadly than taking all that momentum in the chest from a square wall of steel.