Via Andreas Exner:

The reknowned Potsdam Institut for Climate Impact Research has released a remarkable report.

It is remarkable concerning 2 messages:

1. Climate Change is occuring much faster than expected. We must reduce global Greenhouse Gas Emissions about 60-80% immediately. Since this is not to be expected, global warming of 2-2,4 degree Celsius is inevitable. This means, that the threshhold value, above which very dramatic consequences are likely, cannot be hold back any longer. Chaotic climate change is to be feared.

2. In view of accelerating and more catastrophic climate change, the Potsdam Institut says, that the prime regions of global agricultural production are “to be considered as ‘global agricultural commons’ “.

Excerpts:

“The current planetary land-use pattern is the result of erratic historical processes. These were blind to global sustainability considerations, Schellnhuber and Veronika Huber from PIK point out in the report. Future land-use must accommodate the demands of some nine billion people for food and fibre, energy, infrastructures and conservation – on a non-expandable global surface.

Analyses led by PIK indicate that twelve billion people could be nourished on less than one third of the present agricultural area, if the best sites were used for the most appropriate crops and if world food trade would operate undistorted by protectionism. This bold approach would only become feasible, however, if the prime locations (as shown in the figure) were reserved for agriculture as part of a long-term global deal – in the same way as the tropical rainforests hopefully will be earmarked for conservation as part of the global commons.

If humanity is to learn from history and to limit these threats [of anthropogenic climate change], the time has come for stronger control of the human activities that are changing the fundamental conditions for life on Earth,” the writing team states in the Synthesis Report. To decide on effective control measures, an understanding of how human activities are changing the climate, and of the implications of unchecked climate change, needs to be widespread among world and national leaders, as well as among the public.”

More Information:

The red ellipses on this graphic indicate the land areas that should be set aside for the global agricultural commons.