Biden must heed scientists’ warnings, US must lead on emissions cuts
The Texas Farmers Union joins with scientists to call for the U.S. to heed scientists’ warnings and advocate for strong emissions cuts at the upcoming U.N. Climate Conference, set for October 31st - November 12, 2021, in Glasgow, Scotland. There can be no doubt that we are in a climate emergency.
For the last few decades, Texas farmers have endured climate emergencies of their own - declining soil moisture, severe drought - or torrential rains, flooding and extreme temperatures - with the end result of crop loss and financial distress. Some farmers have given up.
The U.N. Secretary - General, Antoino Guterres recently warned that “unless we collectively change course, there is a high risk of failure,” at the upcoming conference. Based on current commitments to emission cuts, he said, we are on a pathway to a disastrous 2.7 degree Celsius of warming, instead of the 1.5 goal. To achieve it, we need at least a 45% cut in emissions, not the 16% increase our current emissions guarantee.
The Texas Farmers Union echoes these warnings and adds that worldwide disaster will be the consequence - a rapid escalation of the problems we have faced in Texas, with catastrophic results. We therefore ask that our leaders stand strong and call for the necessary emissions cuts in Glasgow, so that we can begin to guarantee a safe world for future generations.