Does a change in the 'global net zero' language matter?
Peer reviewed, Journal article
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https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3121279Utgivelsesdato
2023Metadata
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- Journal articles [507]
Sammendrag
Changes in language used in long term climate policy can undermine their credibility and discourage climate action. Previous IPCC reports have promoted an idea of reaching ‘global net zero’ (GNZ) emissions by 2050 in order to limit global warming to 1.5 °C. In the latest IPCC Report, this language has been changed. To understand the impact of this change, we survey COP 26 participants to test their willingness to accept a shift in long term policy goals. We find a low tolerance for a change and, indeed, there is substantial finance, business and political effort behind the idea of reaching GNZ by 2050. This suggests that GNZ by 2050 will remain central to climate action.