Carbon emissions must be reduced to zero “well before 2040” to stop global warming from increasing beyond 1.5 degrees Celcius by the end of the century, scientists have said.

After analysing their research, scientists also said that humans may have to rely on “negative emissions” technology.

Reuters

Many countries committed to preventing global warming under the Paris Agreement on climate change. They are working towards not going back 2C.

This recent study was published in the journal, Nature Communications, is the among the first to use the new FeliX computer model, which includes social, economic and environmental factors.

Researcher, Dr Michael Obersteiner, said, “The FeliX model provides a unique systemic view of the whole carbon cycle, which is vital to our understanding of future climate change and energy.

Dna

“The study shows that the combined energy and land-use system should deliver zero net anthropogenic emissions well before 2040 in order to assure the attainability of a 1.5C target by 2100.”

This does not imply the complete dismissal of burning fossil fuels in 20 years. Some emissions are allowed if enough is taken out of the atmosphere.

Researchers wrote in the Nature Communications paper, “Roughly speaking, and based on current technologies, energy sector emissions will need to peak within the next decade.

conserve energy future

“By 2100, the market share of fossil fuels will need to fall to less than a fourth of total primary energy demand to preserve the possibility of meeting the [Paris Agreement] targets.”

They also added that “full decarbonisation” will have to depend on the use of carbon-capture technology, still in its novel stages, and the burning of biofuels.