Patrick Gonzalez: A scientist making a case for climate optimism with "science-based optimism."
In a nice interview with Jessica Wolfrom, Patrick, a climate change scientist and forest ecologist at the University of California, Berkeley, said:
"I am optimistic; (it’s) science-based optimism. The IPCC results validate this.
"Now, of course, the challenge is substantial. The Intergovernmental Panel reports show that avoiding the most severe consequences of climate change requires us to cut carbon pollution in half by 2030. And to zero by 2050. And every gram of carbon pollution heats the world a little more, pushing us closer to the limit.
"But the recent report has assessed the evidence and concluded that the needed carbon solutions are available now, they’re cost-effective, and we are able to cut carbon pollution enough to avoid the most extreme heating of climate change."