Climate change stabilisation

Of these, climate change has the potential to become by far the most important. If taken seriously by politicians (which is not the case in a number of countries), this could require eventual stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere (usually expressed in terms of ppm CO2 equivalent) if the environmental impact is to be controlled. Should such a stabilisation target be set at double the C02 content at the start of the industrial revolution and this to be reached by 2050, calculations show that fossil foel may by then have to be limited to around 25% of energy demand, compared to some 82% today. 

The announced national emissions target is an unconditional 5% reduction by 2020 compared with 2000 levels a reduction of up to 15% by 2020 if advanced economies take on commitments comparable to Australia s there is an agreement where major developing economies commit to substantially restrain emissions and a reduction of 25% if the world agrees to an ambitious global deal to stabilise levels of CO equivalent at 450 parts per million, with detailed conditions attached (Prime Minister et ak, 2009). This compares with an anticipated increase in emissions by around 8% by 2010, and 26% by 2020, under official projections (Department of Climate Change, 2008c). ... 

Bosetti, V., Carraro, C., Sgobbi, A., Tavoni, M. (2009). Delayed action and uncertain stabilisation targets how much will the delay cost Climatic Change, 96(3), 299-312. 

Anthropogenic addition to radiative forcing at stabilisation (W/m2) Stabilisation level for C02 only (ppm C02) Multi-gas concentration level (ppm C02-eq.) Global mean temperature °C increase above pre-industrial at equilibrium," using best estimate climate sensitivity of 3°C Peaking year for C02 emissions Change in C02 emissions in 2050 (% of 2000 emissions) ... 

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