Megatrend: The Challenge of Climate Change
Everyone agrees that climate change must be stopped. What does that mean for companies? They must adapt to new regulations on the following three topics:
Rising carbon emissions
By 2030, world carbon emissions from coal, oil and gas combustion will increase 16% to 35,053 megatons (Mt). The concentration of CO2 in the earth's atmosphere is approximately 390 ppm (parts per million) by volume as of 2010. This is about 30% higher than atmospheric CO2 levels were before the Industrial Revolution. Because of slow removal processes, atmospheric CO2 will continue to increase in the long term even if emissions are substantially reduced from their present levels
Global warming
The average global temperature will rise 0.5-1.5°C by 2030. Over the past 20 years, an overall temperature increase of 0.5 °C has been measured, with land temperatures rising about twice as fast as ocean temperatures. Climate change is expected to have far-reaching effects on the sustainable development of developing countries.
Ecosystem at risk
Changes in land use for agriculture, building infrastructure, climate change and forestry are already having a great impact on our ecosystem. The world's biodiversity will be reduced from currently 70% of its original potential (100% some centuries ago) to 65% in 2030. The first strong decrease took place in the 20th century.
