An Equitable, Science-Based Plan of Action
Emission reductions alone cannot reverse the current trajectory or restore global climatic conditions to those of the 20th century. While emission reductions and increased atmospheric CO2 removal are essential, they cannot immediately reduce the already unsafe temperatures and impacts, even if implemented rapidly. Moreover, even with the ambitious goal of eliminating emissions by mid-century, global average temperatures are projected to be 2°C to 3°C higher than preindustrial levels, leading to a dystopian future.
We advocate the world community urgently come together to carry out an equitable, science-based plan of action that includes the Climate Triad:
- Direct Climate Cooling: Through sunshine reflection, ecosystem restoration, and other safe and effective means within this decade.
- Accelerating Emission Reductions: Particularly targeting methane due to its short atmospheric lifetime and prevention of sea-level rise.
- Enhancing Carbon Removal and Marine Carbon Sequestration: deploying large scale removal of atmosphere carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses.
The goal of these actions, along with enhanced and transformative adaptation and regeneration measures, is to reduce the average global temperature increase to well below 1°C in the coming decades. Doing so will sharply reduce weather extremes, slow or stop the collapse of key ecosystems, and help ensure a liveable planet for humanity and the natural world.
Among these, Direct Climate Cooling (DCC) is the most urgent to prevent further temperature increases and provide time for emission reductions and carbon removal to accelerate. Promising DCC approaches can likely reduce global average temperatures within years rather than decades, at a cost in the billions rather than trillions, and with acceptable safety levels compared to continuing without DCC.
Blue Cooling Initiative – Leading Principles:
Preserve Biodiversity on our Planet
The oceans are the origin of all life and the basis for our climate system. Therefore, if we want to preserve our planet and the habitat suitable for human conditions for generations to come we have to start protecting our marine environment.
Accelerate Direct Climate Cooling
Biomimetic Direct Climate Cooling can reduce the average global temperature increase to well below 1°C in the coming decades. Doing so will sharply reduce weather extremes, slow or stop the collapse of key ecosystems, and help ensure a liveable planet
Accelerate Emission Reductions
We need to address long-term causes by reducing GHG-emissions; in particular methane due to its relatively short atmospheric lifetime and prevention of sea-level rise. and restoration of ocean ecosystems and biodiversity.
Accelerate Marine Carbon Sequestration
The ocean is the largest active carbon sink, absorbing about 25-30% of human-produced CO₂ emissions. By sequestering CO₂, marine systems play a crucial role to regulate global temperatures and mitigating climate change and store carbon up to centuries.