Human activities are changing the climate, and some of that damage is irreversible. This study warns the likes of increasingly extreme heatwaves, droughts and ‘the breaking of a key temperature limit in just over a decade.’ (McGrath, 2021) Deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions may be the key to stabilizing these increasing temperatures. Scientists believe that if the world responds quickly, we can prevent a disaster and one that is bound to come our way if we do not do something to stop it.
Reiterating the scientist's findings, General António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, has said that “if we combine forces now, we can avert climate catastrophe. But, as today's report makes clear, there is no time for delay and no room for excuses. I count on government leaders and all stakeholders to ensure COP26 is a success.” (McGrath, 2021)
Since 2013 there has been no significant assessment of climate change science until now. The U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has provided an assessment on the future of the plant, and they have found it undeniable that human influence has warmed the planet. Some significant changes we are dealing with include;
As wildfires raged across Greece, thousands of people had to flee their homes
According to Sharma, the time to avert global calamity is rapidly running out
Millions of more people are at risk of experiencing flooding, according to research (McGrath, 2021)
Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, has gone as far as to say the atmosphere is being exposed to doping, in sports terms, meaning extremes are occurring more often than they were before. Extremes like heatwaves in western North America and Greece or flooding in China and Germany. According to the authors of this assessment, global surface temperatures have risen faster since 1970 until now than in any 50-year period in the last 2,000 years. (McGrath, 2021) Some key points from the IPCC report include;
Since 1850, the last five years have been the warmest recorded
The global surface temperature was 1.09 degrees celsius higher between 2011 and 202 than it was between 1850 and 1900.
Hot extremes, including heatwaves, are likely to be more frequent than in the 1950s, whereas cold extremes have become less frequent.
Compared to 1901-1971, the increasing rate of sea-level rise has been almost quadrupled.
Human activity is the main culprit for all these changes and the primary cause of worldwide glacier retreat since the 1990s. (McGrath, 2021)
Our planetary support systems have experiences changes that are irreversible on a timescale of centuries. An example of that change is evident when it comes to sea-level rise, and a 2m rise by the end of the century is almost sure to come. Along with a 5m rise by 2150. (McGrath, 2021) Outcomes such as these are likely to threaten millions of more people in coastal areas with flooding by 2100.
Unless significant cuts in carbon emission take place soon, both target goals of the Paris Climate Agreement from 2015 will be broken by 2040. The pact aimed to keep the rise in global temperatures below 2C and has made efforts to keep it under 1.5C. Almost every nation has signed and agreed to these goals. (McGrath, 2021)
In a world experiencing a rapid increase in extreme weather events since pre-industrial periods and a temperature rise of 1.1C, the consequence of going over 1.5C in the next few years could be fatal. The report showcases how we are experiencing the consequences of this warming, and it will only continue to change the world, not in a good way. If we can find a way to cut global emissions by 50% by 2030 and reach a net-zero by 2050, scientists find it in the realm of possibility that we can reverse the rise in temperatures. (McGrath, 2021) With the hope that nature will be kind and absorb the extra carbon with the planting of trees, after achieving net-zero in greenhouse gases, we should be able to reverse the increasing temperature and get some cooling on earth. However, if we continue on the path we have trod so far, we will experience consequences such as;
Under all emission scenarios researched by scientists, temperatures will rise by 1.5C above 1850-1900 levels by 2040.
At least once before 2050, the Arctic is likely to be free of ice in September.
An increase in fire weather is almost certain in many areas.
More than half of the tidal gauge locations are expected to experience extreme sea-level events once a year. Events that previously occurred once every century, by 2100. (McGrath, 2021)
If we are able to lower global warming, we will be able to minimize the chance of hitting the earth's tipping point, tipping point meaning when part of the earth’s climate experiences a change due to warming. This report, along with many others, serves as a wake-up call for political leaders. However, with the COP26 global climate summit so close, the IPCC report is of extra importance.
To reduce the levels of greenhouse gases accumulating in the atmosphere, the pledges made to cut emissions must include higher aims. As a result, temperatures will rise due to the removal of airborne pollutants from fossil fuels and their reflection of the sun’s heat. Even as society transitions away from fossil fuels.
The warming of 1.1C that has already been recorded has unleashed weather catastrophes. This year alone, wildfires have led to drought, heat waves have killed hundreds in the Pacific Northwest, Greeks were forced to flee their homes with the release of emissions coming from Siberian forests. (Chestney and Januta, 2021) If warming increases, it would mean for some people, even just going outside could be deadly.
Some consequences we have faced are irreversible, there is no going back, such as the continuous melting of Greenland’s ice sheet. Which, as the oceans expand, will continue to rise and increase the sea level.
Since the early Pliocene Epoch era, when oceans were 25m higher than they are today, earth has not experienced warmth like it is now. In the best-case scenario, temperatures would go up to 1.6C by 2060 before stabilizing completely, if we slash emissions in the next ten years. In the worst-case scenario, by the end of the century, temperatures will reach 2.7C if we continue on our current path. (Chestney and Januta, 2021)
If this warming creates feedback loops that release carbon emissions to warm the climate further, such as global forest dieback, the situation will worsen. And by the latter two decades of this century, the earth may be 4.4C warmer than it was before the Industrial Revolution. (Abnett, 2021)
Taking everything into account, Thunberg, a young climate activist, has mentioned that people's understanding of climate change is growing, albeit slowly. She has also mentioned that global leaders have previously ignored scientists' warnings about climate change, and she does not expect them to follow through on their comments in response to the current united nations report. (Abnett, 2021)
“As it is now, nothing is changing. The only thing that is changing is the climate.” - Thunberg
Work cited
McGrath, Matt. “Climate Change: IPCC Report Is 'CODE Red for Humanity'.” BBC News, BBC, 9 Aug. 2021, www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58130705
Chestney, Nina, and Andrea Januta. “'Code Red FOR Humanity': Climate Change Spiraling out of CONTROL, U.N. Report Says - National.” Global News, Global News, 9 Aug. 2021, www.globalnews.ca/news/8097161/climate-change-u-n-report/
Abnett, Kate. “U.N. Climate Change REPORT 'a Wake up Call,' Says Activist Greta Thunberg - National.” Global News, Global News, 9 Aug. 2021, www.globalnews.ca/news/8097313/u-n-climate-change-report-greta-thunberg/
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