UPM Biofore Magazine 1-2019

“Drought, precipitation and rising sea levels will change agriculture so significantly that our capacity to produce enough food for the Earth’s growing population will be at risk,” Taalas estimates.

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“Methane emissions represent a contribution of approximately 17% to global warming. But since methane is stored in the atmosphere for only 12 years, this problem is easier to address. The effects of carbon dioxide last thousands of years.” Coniferous carbon sinks Taalas is concerned about the future of tropical rainforests. “Rainforests store significant amounts of carbon, which is why the prevention of rainforest loss in South America, Africa and Asia has been one of the main issues in climate negotiations.” He points out that the northern coniferous zone has greater regeneration power than rainforests. Global warming and increased rainfall have boosted the growth of coniferous forests, and the tree line is inching closer to the northern fells. Northern forests are thus binding more carbon than ever before. Forest carbon sinks play an important role helping the EU achieve its short-term emission reduction targets. With the help of carbon sinks,

and he also leads Finland’s IPCC operations. Since 2016, Taalas has headed the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). An amazing view of snow- capped Alps opens up from the windows of the WMO headquarters in Geneva’s UN district. Taalas can literally see how the globe’s glaciers are in danger of melting fromhis very own office. “Most of the heat generated on the planet is absorbed by the oceans. As a result of global warming, approximately 75% of the Arctic ice mass has melted. Sea levels are rising as a result of this melting, and our estimates of the precise figure are constantly becoming more accurate,” he states gravely. “We previously anticipated a rise between half a metre and one metre, but now the worst-case scenario predicts a rise of up to two metres during the next century. It all depends particularly on the melting rate of Antarctica and Greenland. The melting rate of the glacier in Greenland has tripled in the past decade,” says Taalas. Rising sea levels expose big coastal

the phase-out of fossil fuels can be postponed, but Taalas emphasises that this will not solve the problem in the long term. Carbon sinks are not enough to compensate for the massive emissions caused by fossil energy globally. “When we look at the issue of forest harvesting, we must consider what is reasonable for the economy and employment. Finland’s industrial production processes are environmentally sound and climate- friendly. Pulp, paper and cardboard are needed globally. If we don’t produce them in the EU, they will be produced somewhere else – and not necessarily in such a sustainable way,” he adds. Disappearing glaciers Taalas has carved out a significant career in climatology since the 1980s. Working as Director of the Finnish Meteorological Institute, he has seen it evolve from a marginal science into a core issue at the very heart of global politics. He has contributed to solving Europe’s acid rain problem and preventing ozone depletion,

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