Is it too late for us to slow climate warming? | Hannah Ritchie, PhD
Big Think - A podcast by bigthink - Saturdays

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“I think the key point is that doesn't mean game over. That doesn't mean we're flipped into a world, and to a point of no return.” **🌍 The 1.5°C Climate Goal Might Be Slipping Away — But It’s Not Game Over** The once-ambitious goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C? It’s likely no longer within reach, says a climate expert. But that’s not a reason to give up. Every fraction of a degree matters — and fighting for 1.6, 1.7, or 1.8°C still means reducing risk, damage, and loss. The Paris Agreement aimed to keep temperatures "well below 2°C" and ideally at 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. While 1.5°C now seems nearly impossible due to the sheer scale of emissions cuts required, staying under 2°C is *still* feasible — *if* countries hit their current targets. What needs to change? Four key sectors: **1. Energy** – Replace fossil fuels with low-carbon sources like solar, wind, geothermal, and especially **nuclear**, which has the *lowest land footprint*. **2. Transport** – Shift to electric where possible, using decarbonized electricity. **3. Food** – Reform agriculture, which uses *half* of all habitable land. **4. Construction** – Build greener, more sustainable infrastructure. The shift to renewables is now *economically viable*, with solar and wind already cheaper than coal or gas in many places. Land use fears? Overblown. Solar needs