It is no use saying, ‘we are doing our best.’ You have to succeed in doing what is necessary. - Winston Churchill
“The Necessary”

According to Dr Jim Hansen - There are the two fundamental actions that must occur
No COAL = 80% 

•    Phase-out of coal use that does not capture CO2. This is 80% of the solution, creating a situation in which CO2 emissions are declining sharply.

•    A gradually but continually rising price on carbon emissions - Recognition by industry of a continually rising carbon price (and elimination of fossil fuel subsidies) would drive innovations in energy efficiency, renewable energies, and other energy sources that do not produce greenhouse gases.

“We are doing our best”

The Danger of we are doing our best -

Extracts from the book Climate Code Red “Some climate-action advocates speak of the need to occupy the ‘middle ground’ or to be atleast ‘heading in the right direction’ because ‘it is always possible to go further later on’. This stance turns risk-aversion on its head by failing to consider worst possible outcomes. At the same time it is politically advantageous because it obviates the need to talk about preventive actions that are currently perceived to be ‘extreme’. As a result much advocacy aims for a direction minimum setting, rather than for a clear statement of what is required.”

>350

Unless we advocate the “necessary” we will be dangerously misleading the policy makers.

Dr James Hansen says “If humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilization developed and to which life on  Earth is adapted, paleoclimate evidence and ongoing climate change suggest that CO2 will need to be reduced from its current 385 ppm to at most 350 ppm. An initial 350 ppm CO2 target may be achievable by phasing out coal use except where CO2 is captured and adopting agricultural and forestry practices that sequester carbon. If the present overshoot of this target CO2 is not brief, there is a possibility of seeding irreversible catastrophic effects.”George monbiot says “When you warn people about the dangers of climate change, they call you a saint. When you explain what needs to be done to stop it they call you a communist.. Everyone is watching and waiting for everyone else to move”

So the complex problem of climate change leaves us with 2 simple solutions to ensure we preserve a liveable planet.

1st step - Reduce our emissions to zero as quickly as possible
2nd step - Remove the excess carbon that is keeping the earth too hot

Jim Hansen further adds “‘Fossil Fuel Facts’ make clear, atmospheric CO2 can be successfully constrained only if coal use is phased out except where the CO2 is captured and sequestered so that it does not enter the atmosphere.”

Commenting on our present action Dr hansen says “The present political approach is to set carbon emission reduction goals for 2025 or 2050. The politicians do not expect the goals to be reached, and they define escape hatches that guarantee they will not. They expect to be retired or become lobbyists before the day of reckoning. The goals are mainly for bragging rights: mine is bigger than yours!”