Avoiding the "Great Filter": An Assessment of Climate Change Solutions and Combinations for Effective Implementation

TL;DR

This paper assesses various climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, proposing an optimal combination of seven solutions for effective implementation to prevent catastrophic environmental and societal impacts.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive evaluation of climate strategies and identifies an optimal set of seven solutions to enhance global climate action effectiveness.

Findings

Identifies key strategies across multiple sectors for climate mitigation and adaptation.

Proposes an optimal combination of seven solutions for simultaneous implementation.

Discusses previous legislation and deployment techniques as future guides.

Abstract

Climate change is the long-term shift in global weather patterns, largely caused by anthropogenic activity of greenhouse gas emissions. Global climate temperatures have unmistakably risen and naturally occurring climate variability alone cannot account for this trend. Human activities are estimated to have caused about 1.0 degree C of global warming above the pre-industrial baseline and if left unchecked, will continue to drastically damage the Earth and its inhabitants. Globally, natural disasters and subsequent economic losses have become increasingly impactful because of climate change. Both wildlife ecosystems and human habitats have been negatively impacted, from rising sea levels to alarming frequency of severe weather events around the world. Attempts towards alleviating the effects of global warming have often been at odds and remain divided among a multitude of strategies, reducing the overall effectiveness of these efforts. It is evident that collaborative action is required for avoiding the most severe consequences of climate change. This paper evaluates the main strategies (industrial/energy, political, economic, agricultural, atmospheric, geological, coastal, and social) towards both mitigating and adapting to climate change. As well, it provides an optimal combination of seven solutions which can be implemented simultaneously, working in tandem to limit and otherwise accommodate the harmful effects of climate change. Previous legislation and deployment techniques are also discussed as guides for future endeavors.