Preparing for a low-energy future

摘要

In the historically short period of a half-century, we have moved from a relatively empty world to a full world, resulting in us pushing against limits and nearing various tipping points in the Earth system. As evidenced by official projections of both global GDP and primary energy use, policy makers are slow to realise this point. For example, the present 390 ppm atmospheric CO_2 concentration may need to be reduced to 350 ppm to avoid eventual irreversible loss of the Greenland ice sheet.