10.11.21 Best Ways to Slow Global Warming

There is no doubt that climate change is one of the most important topics of discussion this year. After the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) deemed the climate crisis a “code red for humanity” late this summer, it became clear that the subject would need to be considered in conjunction with all future decisions.

To help facilitate these urgent conversations, the Citizens Climate Lobby meets with groups to help demonstrate the extent of this issue and present what solutions exist to mitigate the predicted effects. The Citizens Climate Lobby serves on a local and national level to educate the public and meet with legislators to help inform decisions around these topics.

On September 30, the lobby group led a discussion through the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Seminar Series, an educational program sponsored by TD Bank. Using the En-Roads simulator, attendees worked together during the seminar to develop a solution to slow global warming. The group worked toward the goal set forth by international climate scientists: avoid warming the planet by 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2100. If the planet reaches this temperature, it’s predicted to be catastrophic for humanity and other life on earth. Therefore, it’s imperative we have dialogues to help people understand the extent of the problem, identify their individual contributions, and develop solutions on both local and international levels.

The En-Roads simulator comes from Climate Interactive, an independent, nonprofit think tank that grew out of MIT Sloan. The simulator serves to help explore options for climate change mitigation and understand the future impacts if we continue with “business as usual.” Because the climate system behaves in ways that make it challenging for people to fully anticipate long-term consequences of decisions, this tool helps decision-makers by…