Corinne Le Quéré emphasizes the need to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adapt to global warming simultaneously. Achieving neutrality in global CO2 emissions is crucial, but until then, the climate will continue to heat up. A low-carbon social system, economy, and infrastructure are necessary to protect households, businesses, and economic activities. However, some GHG emissions, such as those from agriculture and aviation, cannot be completely avoided. To compensate, carbon sinks like forests and soils must be developed. In France, forests are the most important carbon sink, but they are vulnerable to climate change, heat waves, and other issues, causing their carbon sink capacity to halve in 10 years. To address this, a massive forest regeneration plan is needed over several decades. Le Quéré stresses that combining GHG emissions reduction with adaptation is essential to protect against the rapid warming of the climate. By doing so, we can create a more resilient and sustainable future. Ultimately, a concerted effort is required to reduce emissions, develop carbon sinks, and adapt to the changing climate.
Corinne Le Quéré: To balance out emissions that can’t be avoided, we must create and enhance carbon sinks
