For decades, scientists have been warning us about the consequences of climate change caused by human activities. The world has recently witnessed a series of weather-related records being shattered.
On October 24, several researchers pointed out in a report published in the journal Bioscience that the Earth is becoming increasingly worse off.
The Earth is increasingly damaged by climate change. (Illustrative image: Science et Vie).
Among 35 key indicators of the planet used to monitor the ongoing climate crisis, 20 indicators are at extreme levels. Last summer, a series of climate-related records were broken around the world.
Many Climate Records Broken
Global air temperature, ocean temperature, and the melting of sea ice in Antarctica have all exceeded previous records.
Specifically, the global average temperature on July 7 reached 17.24 degrees Celsius, which is 0.3 degrees Celsius higher than the previous record of 16.94 degrees Celsius, recorded in August 2016.
On August 8, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (Copernicus) confirmed that July was the hottest month ever recorded since the pre-industrial era.
Scientists warn: “We are facing unprecedented extreme weather conditions.”
An unusual series of wildfires in Canada this summer has generated a massive amount of carbon dioxide emissions. The total emissions from these fires reached 1 billion tons, equivalent to Japan’s annual emissions, the fifth-largest polluter in the world.
Researchers are calling for a change in the current trajectory, as climate change is becoming more uncontrollable than ever.
The world needs to transition to a global economy focused on human welfare, reducing CO2 emissions into the environment, while also accelerating the energy transition.
The research team recalls that 10% of the largest emitters are responsible for nearly 50% of global emissions in 2019.
