Climate Change: How Are We Doing?

Given that global temperatures have increased by 1.1C since pre-industrial times, it seems that we may be on track to exceed the Paris Agreement limits of 1.5C, or even 2C. Can we hold global warming to those levels? What actions are needed to limit greenhouse gas emissions? How are the nations of the world doing in minimizing or even reducing greenhouse gas emissions? This course will be a trip around the world, viewing progress or lack of it by major greenhouse gas emiting nations like China, the US, the EU and the rest of Europe, industrialized Asia, and India. We will also look at major fossil fuel producing nations like the Middle East and North Africa, Russia, and the US And what of the developing world, who are impacted the most but are producing the fewest greenhouse gases? What happens when the population increases there and their standard of living rises, and most people want air conditioning and cars? We will also examine the progress of nations toward zero-carbon energy sources, negative
greenhouse gas technologies and natural solutions. Finally, we will run the updated En-ROADS climate solutions model, where you will be the climate czars, and see if you can keep global temperatures from rising to unacceptable levels.