Gases

Near- and long-term trends in the global energy system are inconsistent with limiting global warming to below 1.5 or 2 °C relative to pre-industrial levels.^[200] Current pledges made as part of the Paris Agreement would lead to about 3.0 °C of warming at the end of the 21st century, relative to pre-industrial levels.^[201] To keep warming below 2 °C, more stringent emission reductions in the near-term would allow for less rapid reductions after 2030,^[202] and be cheaper overall.^{[203][failed verification]} To keep warming under 1.5 °C, a far-reaching system change on an unprecedented scale is necessary in energy, land, cities, transport, buildings, and industry.^[204]

Co-benefits of climate change mitigation may help society and individuals more quickly. For example, bicycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions while reducing the effects of a sedentary lifestyle at the same time.^[205] The development and scaling-up of clean technology, such as cement that produces less CO₂,^[206] is critical to achieve sufficient emission reductions for the Paris agreement goals.^[207] Many integrated models are unable to meet the 2 °C target if pessimistic assumptions are made about the availability of mitigation technologies.^[208]

It has been suggested that the most effective and comprehensive policy to reduce carbon emissions is a carbon tax^[209] or the closely related emissions trading.^[210]

There are diverse opinions on how people could reduce their carbon footprint. One suggestion is that the best approach is having fewer children, living car-free, forgoing air travel, and adopting a plant-based diet.^[211] Some disagree with encouraging people to stop having children, saying that children "embody a profound hope for the future", and that more emphasis should be placed on overconsumption, lifestyle choices of the world's wealthy, fossil fuel companies, and government inaction.^[212]