Focusing only on short-term emission reductions is insufficient because it does not create a path to achieving zero emissions.

“So to say, "Hey, hallelujah, we switched from coal to natural gas," that has nothing to do with reaching zero. It sets you back because of the capital spending involved there. And so it's not a path to zero if you're just working on the easy parts of the emission.”

Humanity must immediately reverse the trend of increasing emissions by reducing them by half by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050.

“Start now to decrease emissions, instead of going up, go down -- reverse the trend, bend the curve. Reduce emissions, starting in 2020, to the point where we will be at one half the current level of emissions by 2030, and then continue decreasing them, until we are at net zero by 2050.”

Stabilizing the climate requires a drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the near future.

“They also show that stabilizing climate would imply a drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the near term.”