Greenhouse gases: Climate change is primarily driven by the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations in the Earth’s atmosphere. The main greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gases.
Human activities: The burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) for energy, deforestation, agriculture, and industrial processes are major human activities that contribute to the release of greenhouse gases.
Global warming: The Earth’s average surface temperature has been rising over the past century. This phenomenon is known as global warming, and it is directly linked to the increased concentration of greenhouse gases.
Extreme weather events: Climate change is leading to more frequent and intense extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, heatwaves, droughts, and heavy rainfall, causing significant impacts on ecosystems and human societies.
Sea-level rise: The melting of glaciers and polar ice caps, along with the expansion of seawater due to warming, is causing sea levels to rise. This poses a threat to coastal areas and low-lying islands.
Ocean acidification: Oceans absorb about one-third of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activities, leading to ocean acidification. This can harm marine life, especially organisms like coral reefs and shell-forming creatures.
Biodiversity loss: Climate change affects ecosystems and biodiversity. Many plant and animal species face extinction due to changing habitats and altered weather patterns.
Climate migration: As climate change impacts worsen, there may be significant movements of people, leading to climate-induced migration and potentially creating environmental refugees.
Paris Agreement: The international community has recognized the urgency of combating climate change. The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Renewable energy: Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power, is crucial to mitigating climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Climate adaptation: Alongside mitigation efforts, adaptation strategies are essential to cope with the current and future impacts of climate change. These include building resilient infrastructure, water management, and implementing agricultural practices that are more resistant to extreme weather events.
Global cooperation: Addressing climate change requires collective action and cooperation among countries, businesses, and individuals to reduce emissions and protect the planet for future generations.
Temperature rise: The global average temperature has increased by approximately 1.1 degrees Celsius (2.0 degrees Fahrenheit) since the late 19th century, with the majority of the warming occurring in the past few decades.
Carbon dioxide concentration: The concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Earth’s atmosphere surpassed 400 parts per million (ppm) in the 2010s, reaching levels not seen in millions of years.
Greenhouse gas emissions: The burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, agriculture, and other human activities have led to a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions. The annual global CO2 emissions exceeded 33 gigatons in 2019.
Sea-level rise: Sea levels have risen by about 8-9 inches (20-22 centimeters) since the late 19th century, and the rate of rise has accelerated in recent decades.
Arctic ice melt: Arctic sea ice has been decreasing at a rate of approximately 13.1% per decade since the late 1970s.
Extreme weather events: The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, heatwaves, and wildfires, have increased in many regions due to global warming.
Ocean acidification: The pH level of the world’s oceans has decreased by about 0.1 unit since pre-industrial times, representing a 30% increase in acidity due to the absorption of CO2.
Climate refugees: The number of climate-induced migrants and refugees has been increasing, with millions of people being displaced each year due to climate-related factors such as rising sea levels, droughts, and extreme weather events.
Renewable energy: Despite progress, the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix remains relatively small, accounting for about 26% of the world’s electricity production in 2020.