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Most viewed in Environment
The McKinsey report identifies four types of measures to tackle climate change:
Energy efficiency measures, from more fuel-efficient cars to recycling waste, could contribute 14 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide (GtCO2) savings per year by 2030, compared to business as usual.
A shift to low-carbon energy sources, such as wind, nuclear, biofuels or hydro power, could produce savings of 12 GtCO2 per year by 2030. Under this scenario, biofuels could provide a quarter of transport fuel by 2030.
Halting deforestation and changing farming practices offer 12 GtCO2 savings per year by 2030. But the report's authors suggest that these estimates are subject to uncertainty, as 90% of the potential savings are in developing countries and tackling these problems has not been attempted before.
Changing behaviour, such as getting individuals to travel less, eat less meat, turn down their thermostat and use gadgets more sparingly, could yield another 3.5-5 GtCO2. The authors say that changing lifestyles would depend on politicians coming up with effective incentives.
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