Searching for Scientific Solutions to the Climate Crisis

The CO2 concentration in the atmosphere has dramatically increased from 280 ppm (pre-industrial) to 420 ppm within 150 years. As a consequence, the global average temperature has increased by 1.5°C. This anthropogenic climate change is associated with altered rainfall patterns, extreme weather events and less predictable weather patterns. This presents a major challenge to marine, land, and air ecosystems and threatens the foundations of human civilization. The atmospheric temperature increase caused by rising carbon dioxide concentrations will not decrease significantly even after zero carbon emissions (peak carbon) have been achieved. The climate effects of atmospheric CO2 at peak carbon will remain irreversible for at least 1,000 years, if not counteracted by a net reduction in atmospheric CO2.

Although the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had set the goal of limiting global warming to less than 1.5°C, this goal is not possible to hold any more. Therefore, achieving climate neutrality is more important than ever, by reducing net CO2 emissions to zero through a 45% reduction in emissions within 10 years. This represents a disruptive goal which demands new thinking, solutions and commitments. It is along these lines that the conference will bring together top scientists from marine, soil, plants and human fields to discuss various approaches regarding climate change solutions in their respective disciplines.