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A Year Of Action
http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/v5/n8/full/...
This article highlights the importance of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in addressing climate change, limiting the impacts of global warming and achieving a more sustainable future. In 2015, the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) is expected to agree to an international, legally binding agreement regarding climate action. In particular, the aim of this agreement is to limit global warming to 2°C, and to create a set of sustainable development goals to continue the work proposed in 2002 with the Millennium Development Goals.
This meeting has spurred a number of responses. It is integral that awareness of climate change and the potentially disastrous impacts of global warming is raised amongst the general public and both Pope Francis, and One Direction, amongst others, have been proactive in raising awareness amongst different groups. Pope Francis publicly acknowledged that anthropogenic climate change is real and has potentially disastrous implications for humanity, and the negative implications overconsumption by richer nations is having on poor nations. One Direction launched 1D Day as part of Action/2015, a coalition of organisations committed to prompting action and change in 2015 to create a better future.
The article also notes the importance of changing individual's perceptions of climate change. To create a more sustainable future, it is integral that climate change is seen as important at both a local and international scale, as individuals' are able to help the cause and limit their impact on the environment simply through using energy or resources more sparingly. It is also noted that local experience (experience with heatwaves, floods, drought, storms - extreme events prompted by global warming) are more likely to influence climate change beliefs.
