Jean Pisani-Ferry: We need to get to grips with greener capitalism

Citizens are conscious of the urgency of climate action, and yet remain uncertain of its implications. What they need is clarity, not starry-eyed promises

A police officer stands among slogans sprayed onto the pavement as climate activists from Extinction Rebellion hold a protest in central London. Picture: Dominic Lipinski/PA

THE latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change leaves no doubt: Global warming will continue until at least 2050, even if greenhouse gas emissions are drastically reduced in the coming decades. If they are cut too slowly, the kinds of heatwaves, droughts, heavy rains, and flooding experienced this summer will become more frequent. More catastrophic outcomes, such as abrupt, irreversible changes in oceanic circulation, cannot be ruled out.

Fortunately, the public is increasingly convinced of the urgency of the problem. A recent UN poll indicates that nearly two-thirds of people across 50 countries regard climate change as an emergency.