‘51 billion tons: The amount of greenhouse gases the world typically adds to the atmosphere every year.
To avoid a climate disaster, we have to get to zero.
The reason we need to get to zero is simple. Greenhouse gases trap heat, causing the average surface temperature of the earth to go up. The more gases there are, the more the temperature rises. And once greenhouse gases are in the atmosphere, they stay there for a very long time; something like one-fifth of the carbon dioxide emitted today will still be there in 10,000 years.
How much greenhouse gas is emitted by the things we do?
1- Making things (cement, steel, plastic) 31%
2- Plugging in (electricity) 27%
3- Growing things (plants, animals) 19%
4- Getting around (planes, trucks, cargo ships) 16%
5- Keeping warm and cool (heating, cooling, refrigeration) 7%
By mid-century, increases in global temperatures are projected to raise global mortality rates by the same amount—14 deaths per 100,000.
The economic picture is also bleak. In the next decade or two, the economic damage caused by climate change will likely be as bad as having a COVID-sized pandemic every 10 years.’
From the book: ‘How to avoid a climate disaster’ by Bill Gates
