Carbon dioxide must be removed from the atmosphere to avoid extreme climate change, say scientists

Humans must start removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as soon as possible to avoid saddling future generations with a choice between extreme climate change or spending hundreds of trillions of dollars to avoid it, according to new research.

James Hansen - we have already
overshot climate targets.

An international team of researchers – led by Professor Jim Hansen, Nasa’s former climate science chief – said their conclusion that the world had already overshot targets to limit global warming to within acceptable levels was “sufficiently grim” to force them to urge “rapid emission reductions”.

But they warned this would not be enough and efforts would need to be made to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by about 12.5 per cent.

Read Ian Johnston’s story on the Independent - “Carbon dioxide must be removed from the atmosphere to avoid extreme climate change, say scientists.”