But the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicates that the earth can stay below 2°C. Other methods to suck carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and increase carbon dioxide absorption by the oceans are also being explored, but their long-term implications are not clear. If BECCS and other approaches for negative emissions fail, we are likely to see a 4°C increase in global temperatures. A society that places most of its eggs in the negative emissions basket will likely face catastrophic choices. Scientists, they urge, need to speak openly and freely about the dangers of climate change without leaning on euphemisms.

Source: The Hindu October 22, 2017 18:22 UTC