 A goal of a zero-CO2 economy is necessary to minimize harm related to climate change.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, global CO2 emissions would need to be reduced by 50 - 80%, relative to the years 2000, in order to avoid an average global temperature increase of 2 - 2.4 degrees Celsius.
Experts agree that a 2 degree Celsius change could result in the loss of species, an increase in severe weather disasters, the loss of the coral reefs and the displacement of populations by rising sea levels.
The U.S. would be required to reduce its CO2 production by 96% to correspond to a global reduction of 80%. Generation of greenhouse gases has already resulted in a .7 degree Celsius increase in the world's temperature since pre-industrialization.
Because Fossil Fuels account for nearly 80% of our country's energy use, we must eliminate the use of fossil fuels and therefore greenhouse gas emissions. With our buildings consuming 48% of our country's energy, it makes sense that we start evaluating and improving our homes. Source: Institute for Energy and Environmental Research and Architecture 2030.
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