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Publication Name: PESA Webinar Series
Authors: Bob Ward (Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science)
Date Published: April 2026
Abstract:
The world will not be able to limit global warming to 1.5 Celsius degrees above pre-industrial level if all current reserves of coal, oil and gas are consumed and the resulting carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. The International Energy Agency has warned that new development of fossil fuels is incompatible with limiting warming to 1.5 Celsius degrees above pre-industrial level, which was the strongest target that countries signed up to in the 2015 Paris Agreement.However, President Donald Trump rejects the evidence for climate change as a “hoax” and has withdrawn the United States from international action on climate change. He is attempting to thwart domestic action and encouraging fossil fuel companies to “drill baby drill”. Should PESA members also pretend that climate change does not exist, and support President Trump’s goal of American Energy Dominance? Or is there a better option by supporting the development of carbon capture and storage?