Unravelling the myth of a "carbon budget" for 1.5C

[Jim Lane]

2. Disaster, yes. Human extinction, no.

Our technological prowess has enabled us to create, even if unthinkingly rather than deliberately, the conditions that will drive many species to extinction.

The irony is that that same technological prowess will enable us to shield ourselves from the effects of our own actions.

Not completely, of course. We could well see scores of millions of human deaths in Bangladesh alone. Effects on food production will lead to malnutrition and starvation even in areas that aren't flooded. Along with the deaths will be harsh reductions in the standard of living of those who survive.

But there will be survivors. We can shield ourselves against adverse environmental conditions better than most other species. At this very minute there are humans living in Antarctica and Death Valley. It's not a perfect analogy because they bring in supplies from other areas, but the most pessimistic climate change predictions don't put the whole world at Death Valley levels.