We see far greater risk of massive irreversible sea level rise (SLR) at 2°C, on a scale of 12–20 meters or more in the long term. The climate record of the Earth over the pat few million years is quite clear:
Sea Level Rise from Ice Sheets
We see far greater risk of massive irreversible sea level rise (SLR) at 2°C, on a scale of 12–20 meters or more in the long term. The climate record of the Earth over the pat few million years is quite clear:
Sea Level Rise from Ice Sheets
![UMassAmherst_longform-RGB[2].png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/303340_154b740b044b44719fb05b06f845f2d1~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_118,h_58,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/UMassAmherst_longform-RGB%5B2%5D.png)
![UMassAmherst_longform-RGB[2].png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/303340_154b740b044b44719fb05b06f845f2d1~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_139,h_70,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/UMassAmherst_longform-RGB%5B2%5D.png)
Watch again here:
Watch the entire Event
Polar Cut - Openings by Figueres and Bamber; Polar overshoot implications
Individual science presentations:
About The Event
Through launch of the 50x30 Coalition, this event aims to inform and engage leaders to act on the results of the IPCC Special Reports on 1.5°C of Warming (SR1.5, 2018) and on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC, 2019), as well as science to be included in the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6, 2021).
50x30 aims to highlight the damaging global impacts of “overshoot”, in which emissions remain too high to hold the Earth within 1.5°, or at least 2°C of warming: the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement. The consequences of overshoot are dangerously underestimated by the policy world. While there are other impacts from exceeding Paris limits, those from cryosphere standout, nearly all with global consequences that cannot be reversed on human timescales: unstoppable long-term sea-level rise, polar ocean acidification, loss of glacier- and snow-fed water resources, centuries-long permafrost carbon emissions.
Most governments and many businesses have pledged carbon neutrality by 2050; but the IPCC SR1.5 made clear that median global reductions of 50% are needed by 2030 to reach that neutrality goal; and almost no actors are doing so. 50x30 will raise up the policy plans of thosefew that do; making clear both that 1.5°C remains possible, and what will happen if we fail.
Speakers include IPCC scientists and 50x30-consistent governments who have endorsed the 50x30 Mission Statement.
50x30 Launch Event Program - April 21
All times in Central European Summer Time (CEST) and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
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OPENING:
Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary, UNFCCC and Co-Founder, Global Optimism Ltd
PART I: THE CONSEQUENCES OF OVERSHOOT
Moderator
Dr. Jonathan Bamber, Bristol Glaciology Centre and former chair, EGU; IPCC AR4, AR5, SROCC
Voice from the Fastest-warming Place on Earth
Dr. Heidi Sevestre, by satellite phone from Climate Sentinels Research Expedition, somewhere between Svea and Hornsund, Spitzbergen Island, Svalbard (conditions permitting)
Science Panelists
Dr. Julie Brigham-Grette, UMass-Amherst, AGU Fellow, former Chair US Polar Research Board
Past is Present: What Paleo-climate Says About Overshoot
Dr. Tim Naish, Antarctic Research Centre, University of Victoria/Wellington (NZ), IPCC AR5
Melting Ice, Rising Seas: Overshoot and Antarctica
Dr. Heidi Sevestre, Lecturer, University Centre in Svalbard/ICCI Outreach Director
Glaciers and Snow: Long-Term Loss of Water Resources (recorded)
Dr. Carol Turley, Plymouth Marine Laboratory (UK)
Polar Oceans: Long-term Legacy of Overshoot
Dr. Gustaf Hugelius, Bolin Centre for Climate Research (Sweden)
Permafrost Thaw: Committing Six Generations to Negative Emissions
Dr. Julienne Stroeve, NSIDC (U.S.)/University of Manitoba (Canada), IPCC SROCC
Arctic Sea Ice Loss and Impacts Past 1.5°C
PART II: HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT: MEANINGFUL 1.5°C PATHWAYS
Moderator:
Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Co-President, Club of Rome
What are 50% by 2030 Pathways?
Dr. Joeri Rogelj, Grantham Institute, Imperial College London, IPCC SR1.5, AR5, AR6
Progress Towards 2030 To-Date
Dr. Bill Hare, Founder and CEO, Climate Analytics, IPCC AR4
Proving the Possible: 50x30-Consistent Governments: United Kingdom
Mr. Nigel Topping, COP-26 High-level Champion, United Kingdom
Proving the Possible: 50x30-Consistent Governments: Finland
H.E. Krista Mikkonen, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Finland
The Challenge Ahead: Countries Nearing 50x30: Canada
H.E. Elizabeth May, MP, Parliamentary Leader, Green Party (Canada)
CLOSING:
Selwin Charles Hart, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on Climate Action and UN Assistant Secretary-General for the Climate Action Team
‘In pathways with no or limited overshoot of 1.5°C,
CO2 emissions must decline 40-60% [median 50%] by 2030.’
- from Summary for Policymakers, IPCC Special Report on 1.5° of Warming, 2018.
Co-moderators
Dr. Jonathan Bamber
Professor of glaciology and Director of the Bristol Glaciology Centre (UK),
former chair, EGU; IPCC AR5, AR6, SROCC
Sandrine Dixson-Declève
Co-President of the Club of Rome
Honorary Guests
Selwin Charles Hart
Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on Climate Action and UN Assistant Secretary-General for the Climate Action Team
Christiana Figueres
Co-Founder Global Optimism Ltd, Former Executive Secretary, UNFCCC
High-level Segment
Mr. Nigel Topping
COP-26 High-level Champion (UK)
Dr. Bill Hare
Founder and CEO, Climate Analytics
IPCC AR4
H.E. Krista Mikkonen
Minister of the Environment and
Climate Change (Finland)
Hon. Elizabeth May
MP, Parliamentary Leader,
Green Party (Canada)
Science Speakers
Dr. Heidi Sevestre
Global Outreach Director ICCI,
Guest Lecturer,
University Centre in Svalbard
Dr. Julie Brigham-Grette
Department of Geosciences
University of Massachusetts-Amherst (U.S.)
AGU Fellow and former Chair, U.S. Polar Research Board
Dr. Tim Naish
Antarctic Research Centre, University of Victoria/Wellington (New Zealand)
IPCC AR5
Dr. Julienne Stroeve
NSIDC (U.S.),
University of Manitoba (Canada),
University College London (UK)
IPCC SROCC
Dr. Carol Turley
OBE, Senior Scientist and Head of International Affairs, Plymouth Marine Laboratory (UK)
Dr. Gustaf Hugelius
Bolin Centre for Climate Research (Sweden),
Co-chair, International Soil Carbon Network
Dr. Joeri Rogelj
Grantham Institute
Imperial College London (UK)
IPCC SR1.5, AR5, AR6
Founding Partners of the 50x30 Coalition
Background
50x30 is a partnership between cryosphere and climate science research institutions, and those governments that have meaningful 50% by 2030 reduction targets. Founding scientific institutions include the Bolin Centre for Climate Research/Stockholm University (Sweden), Grantham Institute of Climate and Environment at Imperial College London (UK), University of Massachusetts-Amherst (U.S.), Bristol University Glaciology Centre (UK), the Antarctic Research Centre/University of Victoria Wellington (New Zealand), American Geophysical Union (AGU), National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC, U.S.), and Climate Analytics (Germany). Governments with 50x30 consistent targets include COP-26 host the United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland, Germany and Sweden. The International Crysophere Climate Initiative (ICCI, Sweden/U.S.) provides administrative support. 50x30 is made possible through foundation support from the Svenska Postkodsstiftelsen.