{"id":949,"date":"2021-08-15T21:45:25","date_gmt":"2021-08-15T19:45:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/actforyourplanet.com\/?p=949"},"modified":"2026-05-22T23:01:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T21:01:19","slug":"climate-change-widespread-rapid-and-intensifying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/actforyourplanet.com\/index.php\/2021\/08\/15\/climate-change-widespread-rapid-and-intensifying\/","title":{"rendered":"Climate change widespread, rapid, and intensifying"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Scientists are observing changes in the Earth\u2019s climate in every region and across the whole climate system, according to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report, released today. Many of the changes observed in the climate are unprecedented in thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of years, and some of the changes already set in motion\u2014such as continued sea level rise\u2014are irreversible over hundreds to thousands of years.<\/p>\n

However, strong and sustained reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases would limit climate change. While benefits for air quality would come quickly, it could take 20-30 years to see global temperatures stabilize, according to the IPCC Working Group.<\/p>\n

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Faster warming\"\"<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The report provides new estimates of the chances of crossing the global warming level of 1.5\u00b0C in the next decades, and finds that unless there are immediate, rapid and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, limiting warming to close to 1.5\u00b0C or even 2\u00b0C will be beyond reach.<\/p>\n

The report shows that emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities are responsible for approximately 1.1\u00b0C of warming since 1850-1900, and finds that averaged over the next 20 years, global temperature is expected to reach or exceed 1.5\u00b0C of warming. This assessment is based on improved observational datasets to assess historical warming, as well progress in scientific understanding of the response of the climate system to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Climate change<\/strong> is bringing multiple different changes in different regions \u2013 which will all increase with further warming. These include changes to wetness and dryness, to winds, snow and ice, coastal areas and oceans. For example:<\/h4>\n
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  • \u25cf \u00a0Climate change is intensifying the water cycle. This brings more intense rainfall and associated flooding, as well as more intense drought in many regions.<\/li>\n
  • \u25cf \u00a0Climate change is affecting rainfall patterns. In high latitudes, precipitation is likely to increase, while it is projected to decrease over large parts of the subtropics. Changes to monsoon precipitation are expected, which will vary by region.<\/li>\n
  • \u25cf \u00a0Coastal areas will see continued sea level rise throughout the 21st century, contributing to more frequent and severe coastal flooding in low-lying areas and coastal erosion. Extreme sea level events that previously occurred once in 100 years could happen every year by the end of this century.<\/li>\n
  • \u25cf \u00a0Further warming will amplify permafrost thawing, and the loss of seasonal snow cover, melting of glaciers and ice sheets, and loss of summer Arctic sea ice.<\/li>\n
  • \u25cf \u00a0Changes to the ocean, including warming, more frequent marine heatwaves, ocean acidification, and reduced oxygen levels have been clearly linked to human influence. These changes affect both ocean ecosystems and the people that rely on them, and they will continue throughout at least the rest of this century.<\/li>\n
  • \u25cf \u00a0For cities, some aspects of climate change may be amplified, including heat (since urban areas are usually warmer than their surroundings), flooding from heavy precipitation events and sea level rise in coastal cities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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    Human influence on the past and future climate<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    \u201cIt has been clear for decades that the Earth\u2019s climate is changing, and the role of human influence on the climate system is undisputed,\u201d said Masson-Delmotte. Yet the new report also reflects major advances in the science of attribution \u2013 understanding the role of climate change in intensifying specific weather and climate events such as extreme heat waves and heavy rainfall events.<\/p>\n

    The report also shows that human actions still have the potential to determine the future course of climate. The evidence is clear that carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main driver of climate change, even as other greenhouse gases and air pollutants also affect the climate.<\/p>\n

    \u201cStabilizing the climate will require strong, rapid, and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and reaching net zero CO2 emissions. Limiting other greenhouse gases and air pollutants, especially methane, could have benefits both for health and the climate,\u201d said Zhai.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n