A one page document to understand climate change
Climate change refers to the long-term alterations in the Earth's climate system, including temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and other factors, primarily resulting from human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes^[1]. The effects of climate change are already being observed worldwide, including rising sea levels, increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, floods, and storms, and changes in ecosystems and agricultural productivity^[2][3].
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Earth's temperature has increased by 1.1°C since the pre-industrial period (1850-1900)^[1]. The burning of fossil fuels is the largest contributor to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 73% of the total according to the IPCC^[1]. The year 2020 was tied with 2016 as the warmest year on record, with the global average temperature about 1.02°C above the 20th-century average, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)^[4].
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warns that global sea levels are expected to rise by up to 1 meter by the end of the century, with devastating consequences for coastal regions and small island nations^[5]. The IPCC estimates that global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions need to decline by about 45% from 2010 levels by 2030, and reach net-zero by around 2050 in order to limit global warming to 1.5°C and avoid the worst impacts of climate change^[1].
The effects of climate change are not evenly distributed, with low-income countries and vulnerable populations such as indigenous communities, women, and children being disproportionately affected^[6]. The United Nations estimates that climate change could push up to 132 million people into extreme poverty by 2030^[6].
Climate change is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires global cooperation and urgent action to mitigate its impacts. While the situation may seem daunting, there are many solutions and innovations being developed to address the problem, including renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and green technologies^[1].
Sources:
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2021). Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Cambridge University Press. https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (2021). Climate Change: How Do We Know? https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/
- World Wildlife Fund. (n.d.). Impacts of Climate Change. https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/effects-of-climate-change
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2021). Global Climate Report - Annual 2020. https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/202013
- World Meteorological Organization. (2021). State of the Global Climate 2020. https://library.wmo.int/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=22080#.Y_ZUHezP0UQ
- United Nations Development Programme. (2019). Climate Vulnerability Monitor. https://www.undp.org/publications/undp-annual-report-2019