Chile is currently facing forest fires in several regions, including La Araucanía. These fires are a result of the warming temperatures, which have exceeded 1.5C for the first time across an entire year according to the EU’s climate service. In 2015, world leaders pledged to limit long-term temperature rise to 1.5C, as this is crucial to avoid the most damaging impacts of global warming.
Unfortunately, urgent action to cut carbon emissions is necessary to slow down the warming trend. Prof Sir Bob Watson, a former chair of the UN’s climate body, expressed concern about the floods, droughts, heatwaves, and wildfires that have occurred around the world due to the 1.5C increase in temperature.
The period from February 2023 to January 2024 saw a warming of 1.52C, according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. The UK’s political parties have scaled back pledges, which many climate scientists believe are necessary to avoid the worst impacts of warming.
The world’s sea surface is also at its highest ever recorded average temperature, another indication of the widespread effect of climate change. These temperature increases are mainly driven by human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, which release planet-warming gases like carbon dioxide. The natural climate-warming phenomenon known as El Niño has also contributed to this increase in temperatures.
It is still possible to limit global warming, and researchers emphasize the importance of halving emissions this decade. While some of the worst case scenarios of 4C warming or more this century are now considered less likely based on current policies and pledges, it’s crucial for society to make choices that will ultimately control the world’s warming trajectory. It’s believed that the world will stop warming once net zero carbon emissions are reached.
In conclusion, as temperatures continue to rise, urgent action to cut carbon emissions is necessary to slow down the warming trend and to avoid the most damaging impacts of global warming. Researchers emphasize the importance of societal and planetary choices in controlling the world’s warming trajectory.