Luca Campion graduated with great distinction in June 2019 with a Master's degree in Business Engineering from Hasselt University, specializing in Technology in Business. During his master's studies, he gained valuable consultancy experience through an internship. After graduating, he remained affiliated with Hasselt University, working as a doctoral researcher in the Environmental Economics research group. In both his master's thesis and his doctoral research, Luca focused on integrating techno-economic and life cycle analysis, particularly in the context of biochar, a biobased technology for carbon dioxide removal. In February 2024, Luca joined the strategic team at Econopolis as a Climate Consultant.
Beyond 1.5°c: global warming's new peaks and what they mean
This week's Climate Shocker could only be on one topic – a pivotal moment in our planet's global warming trends. According to the latest report from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, a disturbing milestone was reached: March 2024 experienced temperatures 1.68°C higher than the pre-industrial average (1850-1900) for the month[1]. What's more, this represents the tenth consecutive month that has set a new record for temperatures, relative to their respective periods. Over the last twelve months, the global average temperature has climbed to 1.58°C above the 1850-1900 baseline [1]. This rise means a breach of the crucial 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Agreement, though it will only be considered as definitive once the change persists for a decade. The past 12 months have set a record as the warmest year-long period ever observed globally, signaling a possible acceleration in the pace of global warming.
This unprecedented warming is likely attributable to a combination of factors, with no single factor fully accounting for the anomaly. These include the ongoing El Niño event, diminishing cooling effects from sulfur dioxide particles due to decreased concentrations following pollution control measures, the impact of the volcanic eruption in Tonga in January 2022, and heightened solar activity. Should the situation fail to stabilize by August, aligning with historical El Niño patterns, we could be entering uncharted climatic territory. In that case, this potential development might represent the most significant gap in our understanding of climate science over the past forty years [2].
The urgency of this moment calls for immediate and diverse action, ranging from significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to innovative technologies that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (such as Direct Air Capture), and, potentially, the consideration of geoengineering solutions. Our commitment to mitigating climate change must be as multifaceted as the challenge itself, embracing both technological advancements and policy shifts aimed at a more sustainable future. In the book ‘De Klimaatschok’, co-authored by Econopolis’ Geert Noels, Kristof Eggermont, and Yanaika Denoyelle, 20 climate solutions for the Belgian government, businesses, and citizens were proposed. The combination of these 20 solutions can lead the country to climate neutrality by 2050.
As we face the alarming trends underscored by recent climate data, let this serve as a call to action for all stakeholders. The time for decisive and comprehensive action is now. We invite you to connect with our team to explore how we can collectively address these challenges, leveraging our insights and expertise to foster a more sustainable and resilient future.
[1] https://climate.copernicus.eu/surface-air-temperature-march-2024
[2] https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00816-z
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