The United States could soon walk away from a trillion-dollar opportunity if some influential players in the Trump administration have their way. 。
The Paris Climate Agreement may global boost the economy by $19 trillion over the next three decades as countries invest in renewable energy, energy efficiency and zero-emissions transportation, according to a report by two global energy agencies. 。
SEE ALSO:Earth just had its second-warmest February on record 。Such investments are essential for meeting the targets of the Paris treaty -- a landmark deal that aims to limit global warming in order to avoid dangerous impacts including sea level rise and extreme weather events.。
Trump is considering pulling the U.S. out of the global agreement. If he does so, the U.S. could miss out on many of the economic benefits identified in the report, which was commissioned by the German government. 。
Via Giphy 。Beyond protecting the planet, all the world's clean-energy spending will grow the global economy by around 0.8 percent by 2050, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) said Monday in a new study, which it produced with the International Energy Agency (IEA).。
In addition, renewable energy investments could yield an additional 6 million jobs through the same period, the report found. 。
"Critically, the economic case for the energy transition has never been stronger," Adnan Amin, director-general of IRENA, an intergovernmental organization, said Monday in a statement. 。
A key point in the report, though, is that delaying the transition to a cleaner energy system would be more costly. 。
Thanks for signing up!。
"We are in a good position to transform the global energy system, but success will depend on urgent action, as delays will raise the costs of decarbonization," Amin added.
。Steam rises from a German coal plant.Credit: maja hitji/Getty Images。
Still, that transformation won't come without major investments. Revamping the global energy system could require $145 trillion in investment in low-carbon technologies by mid-century, IRENA said. 。
By leaving the Paris agreement, the U.S. would cede its leadership on clean energy to China and other big economies. It would also undermine the world's chances of meeting the Paris goals. 。
Under the treaty, which officially entered into force last November, nations agreed to keep global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, above preindustrial levels through 2100. The deal also contains a more aggressive aspirational goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, or 2.6 degrees Fahrenheit. 。Primary CO2 emissions reduction potential by technology in the Reference Case and REmap (2015-2050).Credit: IRENA 。
To achieve the 2-degree target, the world would have to dramatically slash its energy-related carbon dioxide emissions by replacing oil, coal and natural gas with wind, solar and other renewable sources.。
Energy-related CO2 emissions must shrink to 9.5 gigatons by 2050, down from 32 gigatons in 2015, the energy agencies said in their report. That means renewables should account for at least 65 percent of global power generation by the middle of the century -- up from 24 percent today. 。
Meanwhile, total fossil fuel use would shrink to a third of today's level. 。
"The clear conclusion is that governments must act now to begin a managed decline of the fossil fuel industry, a process that is both achievable and affordable with clean energy," Greg Muttitt, senior advisor at Oil Change International, a climate advocacy organization, said in response to the report.
。Best buds: Chancellor Merkel, left, with President Trump at the White House, March 17, 2017.Credit: justin sullivan/Getty Images 。
German Chancellor Angela Merkel commissioned the IRENA study to guide upcoming climate and energy discussions for the Group of 20 economies, which began this week in Germany. 。
Featured Video For You。
(责任编辑：娛樂)
PlayStation Now game streaming is coming to PCiFixit teardown confirms the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro are mostly identicalTwitter 'exploring' adding a dislike button or downvote systemAlphabet gives up on balloon
Visualizing July's astounding global temperature recordsPole vaulter claims his penis is not to blame
Following the cringeworthy moment in which pole vaulter Hiroki Ogita's penis grazed the bar and he f
...[详细]The iPhone 12 is cool, but it made the iPhone 11 an even better deal
The iPhone 12 is impressive. Some of its new features may sound evolutionary, but they hit all the r
...[详细]Xbox Live Gold doesn't need a price change. It just needs to go away.
Microsoft had quite a Friday.The fun started when the Xbox maker shared the news that Xbox Live Gold
...[详细]'The Hardy Boys' Review: Hulu mystery series is extremely fine.
Every handful of years, Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys get their stories revamped for the screen. Las
...[详细]Airbnb activates disaster response site for Louisiana flooding
Airbnb has activated its disaster response page following the record-breaking flooding in Louisiana.
...[详细]HBO Max's 'Locked Down' starring Anne Hathaway: Movie review
At some point in the past several months, pop culture created during the pandemic about the pandemic
...[详细]Facebook's Libra might launch in January, but there's a catch
Facebook's cryptocurrency Libra, announced in June last year and then delayed after running into a s
...[详细]YouTube finally gives up on its infamous YouTube Rewind for 2020
YouTube will not be posting a Rewind this year, which is probably for the best. The company's annual
...[详细]You can now play 'Solitaire' and 'Tic
Google just added two new fun Easter eggs to its search results.
。You can now play
。 Solitaire
。and 。 Ti
...[详细]Facebook's algorithm has systemic problems, asserts Congress
Facebook's disinformation problem is not the result of a few bad apples. So argue two members of Con
...[详细]Twitter grants everyone access to quality filter for tweet notifications
Does monogamy work? This new book explores the controversial question.
Via Giphy 。