The difference between 1.5 and 2 degrees

Introduction

In 2021, all the people, corporations, and cow burps in the world emitted about 50 billion tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Now imagine two different paths forward. In the first scenario, we all get our act together and start cutting emissions at the pace of 2 billion tons every year for the next 30 years. As a result we reach zero-emissions by 2047.

Cumulative CO2 emissions

Coal emissions began declining in America for two main reasons:

  1. The fracking boom in America that led to a fall in natural gas prices;
  2. The dramatic fall in the price of renewable energy.

Let's look at how those two changes affected coal emissions.

Coal emissions began declining in America for two main reasons:

  1. The fracking boom in America that led to a fall in natural gas prices;
  2. The dramatic fall in the price of renewable energy.

Let's look at how those two changes affected coal emissions.