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"CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL"

"CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL"

Author: champion
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Chapter 1 Climate Change is Real

Word Count: 7625    |    Released on: 21/05/2023

ST

he same fight. We must connect the dots between climate change, water scarcity, energy shortages, glob

TEN

ON OF CLIM

FFECTS OF CL

ATE RE

S AGRE

NTS OF PARI

& ACTION FOR

BASED S

SS RE

NCLUS

TES FOR CLIM

TE CH

but since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning o

ound the earth, trapping the sun's heat and raising temperatures. Examples of greenho

F CLIMATE

ns and disrupting the usual balance of nature, posing many

it more difficult to work and move around. Wildfires start more easily and spread more rapidly when conditions are hotter. Temperature rise is only the beginning of the st

nse dr

er sc

vere

ng sea

loo

ing po

trophic

ing biod

NCING CLIMATE CHAN

such as people living in small island developing states. Conditions like sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion have advanced to the

CAN SEEM

dictably cause, it can seem too big and too complex to get your hands around,

why 203

hat with all the great work being done, we are not on track to a sustainable future, and this decade is our last window of opportunity to turn things around. we've developed (in partnership with leading climate scientists) the science, models and action scenarios that give you the power to make a critical impact through your daily actions. we've made the ending of the climate crisis a g

FFECTS OF CL

rbon dioxide emissions. As greenhouse gas emissions blanket the Earth, they trap the sun's heat. This leads to global warming and climate change. The world is now warming faster than at any point in

ATING

s, which produces carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide – powerful greenhouse gases that blanket the Earth and trap the sun's heat. Globally, a bit more than a quarter

CTURIN

her goods. Mining and other industrial processes also release gases, as does the construction industry. Machines used in the manufacturing process often run on coal, oil, or gas; and

G DOWN

Each year approximately 12 million hectares of forest are destroyed. Since forests absorb carbon dioxide, destroying them also limits nature's ability to keep emissi

TRANSP

ount for the largest part, due to the combustion of petroleum-based products, like gasoline, in internal combustion engines. But emissions from ships and planes continue to grow. Tra

UCIN

re and grazing, digestion by cows and sheep, the production and use of fertilizers and manure for growing crops, and the use of energy to run farm equipment or fishing boats

NG BUI

ey emit significant quantities of greenhouse gas emissions. Growing energy demand for heating and cooling, with rising air-conditioner ownership, as well as increased ele

ING TO

s clothing, electronics, and plastics. A large chunk of global greenhouse gas emissions are linked to private households. Our lifestyles have a profound impact on our planet. T

OF CLIMA

TEMPE

armer than the previous one. Nearly all land areas are seeing more hot days and heat waves. Higher temperatures increase heat-related illnesses and make working outdoors more

EVERE

e rainfall and flooding, causing more destructive storms. The frequency and extent of tropical storms is also affected by the warming ocean. Cyclones, hu

ASED

creased risk of agricultural droughts affecting crops, and ecological droughts increasing the vulnerability of ecosystems. Droughts can also stir destructive sand and dust storms that

NG, RIS

As the ocean warms, its volume increases since water expands as it gets warmer. Melting ice sheets also cause sea levels to rise, threatening coastal and island communities. I

OF SP

pecies at a rate 1,000 times greater than at any other time in recorded human history. One million species are at risk of becoming extinct within the next few decades. Forest f

NOUGH

troyed or become less productive. With the ocean becoming more acidic, marine resources that feed billions of people are at risk. Changes in snow and ice cover in many Arctic regio

HEALT

acement, pressures on mental health, and increased hunger and poor nutrition in places where people cannot grow or find sufficient food. Every year, environmental factors take the li

AND DISP

t to work in outdoor jobs. Water scarcity may affect crops. Over the past decade (2010–2019), weather-related events displaced an estimated 23.1 million people on average

sed on vario

TE RE

nual to Decadal

May

likelihood that the annual average near-surface global temperature between 2023 and 2027 will be more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for at least one year. There is a 98% likelihood that at least one of the next five years, and the five-yea

nual to Decadal

May

likelihood that the annual average near-surface global temperature between 2023 and 2027 will be more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for at least one year. There is a 98% likelihood that at least one of the next five years, and the five-yea

f the Global

pril

2015-2022 were the eight warmest on record, despite the cooling impact of a La Niña event for the past three years. Melting of glaciers and sea level rise - which again reached record le

Re

Gap Report 2022:

tober

lectricity supply, industry, transport and buildings sectors, and the food and financial systems – as curr

P R

enhouse G

tober

new record highs in 2021, showing the biggest year-on-year jump in methane concentrations since systematic measurements began nearly 40 year

Re

ted in Sc

ptemb

e ruled out and the ambition of emissions reduction pledges for 2030 needs to

Re

f the Climate

tembe

African communities, economies, and ecosystems hard. Rising water demand combined wi

Re

nge 2022: Mitigati

ril

5 at the latest, and be reduced by 43% by 2030; at the same time, methane would also need to be reduced by about a third. According to the report, there is increasing evidence of climate action. In 2010-2019, average annual global greenhouse gas e

C R

of Global

May

hs of 2021. A temporary cooling "La Niña" event early in the year means that 2021 is expected to be "only" the fifth to seventh warmest year on record. But this does not negate or reverse the long-term trend of rising temperatures. Global sea level rise accelerated since 2013 to a new high in 2021, with continued ocean warmin

Re

e 2022: Impacts, Ada

bruar

floods are already exceeding plants and animals' tolerance thresholds, driving mass mortalities in species such as trees and corals. These weather extremes are occurring simultaneously, causing cascading impacts that are increasingly difficult to manage. They have exposed millions of people to acute food and water in

C R

nhouse Ga

tober

gas, reached 413.2 parts per million in 2020 and is 149 per cent of the pre-industrial level. Methane is 262 per cent of the level in 1750 when human activities started disrupting the Earth's natural equilibrium. The economic slowdown from COVID-19 did not have any discernible impact on atmospheric levels of greenho

Re

he State of the Cl

tober

te adaptation, weather and climate services and early warning systems far outweigh the costs. The report adds to the scientific evidence underlining the urgency of cutting global greenhouse gas emissions, stepping up climate ambition and increasing financing for adaptation. Gr

Re

ed in Sci

ptemb

are fuelling extreme weather throughout the world, impacting economies and societies. The average global temperature for the past five years was among the highest on record, and the scale of recent changes across the global climate system is unprecedented over many centuries to many thousa

Rep

nge 2021: The Phys

gust

ars. Some, such as continued sea-level rise, are irreversible over hundreds to thousands of years. The report points to strong and sustained reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to limit climate change. Benefits for air quality would come quickly, while global temperatures would take 20-30 years to stab

C R

of the Globa

pril

el. The six years since 2015 have been the warmest on record, with 2011-2020 the warmest decade on record. The report documents indicators of the climate system, including greenhouse gas concentrations, increasing land an

Re

enhouse G

vembe

d Meteorological Organization in releasing its latest WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin. Carbon dioxide levels have pu

Re

of the Climate

tober

opment in Africa, according to the State of the Climate in Africa Report devoted exclusively to the continent. The report provides a snapshot of current and future climate trends and assoc

Re

ate of Climat

tober

ds reported during that period. As climate change continues to threaten human lives, ecosystems and economies, risk information and early warning systems (EWS) are increasingly seen as key for reducing these impacts. This

Re

ted in Sc

tembe

g and irreversible impacts of climate change, which affects glaciers, oceans, nature, economies and human living conditions and is often felt through water-

Re

f the Global

arch

9 the second warmest year on record according to a new report compiled by a network led by the World Meteorological Organization. The report documents the incre

Re

f the Global

arch

record greenhouse gas concentrations drive global temperatures towards increasingly

ghts record sea level rise, as well as exceptionally high land and ocean temperatures over the past f

Re

Special

tobe

ntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said in a new assessment. With clear benefits to people and natural ecosystems,

C R

enhouse G

vembe

s of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have reached another new record high, according to the World Meteorological Organization. Th

Re

esis Report: Cli

ember

ncerning the science of climate change. It shows that human influence on the climate system is clear, and recent anthrop

HT LE

climate change-scientists, diplomats, economists, business leaders, activists and more. Check this page re

oss and damage: a mo

nd Vulnerability, and the Special Report on 1.5°C to shed more light on the issue, what it means for vulnerabl

f inaction is far greate

, discusses the urgent need for the world to invest in renewable energy, support lifesaving adaptation efforts and a

a: We need to ge

s and regions - "to walk the talk on their net-zero promises." Chair of the Group, Catherine McKenna, talks about why there is an urgent need for stronger

Protecting the wo

cting the world's biodiversity. The Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversi

Living in harm

says SDG Advocate and Indigenous rights activists Hindou Ibrahim, talking about the

tation is an issue of justi

ise climate ambition now. In this interview, he talks about the critical need for developed countries to finance

ing energy poverty sav

nbiyi is passionate about ending energy poverty. Progress demands collective commitment and clear plans,

the needle on the su

and sustainably use the ocean. He spoke recently about ocean-climate connections, perspectives from sm

Climate finance

and communities in developing countries to finance climate solutions. In a recent interview, she spoke about how p

RIS AG

national borders. It is an issue that requires internati

s at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris reached

long-term goals t

global temperature increase in this century to 2 degrees Celsius whi

es' commitments

itigate climate change, strengthen resilience an

ntered into force on 4 November 2016. Today, 194 Parties (193 S

alls on countries to strengthen their commitments over time. The Agreement provides a pathway for developed nations to assist developing nations in

come. It marks the beginning of a shift towards a net-zero emissions world. Implementation

oes i

ational climate action plan - known as Nationally Determined Contribution, or NDC. In their NDCs, countries communicate actions they will take to reduce their greenhouse gas emission

the efforts towards the long-term goal, the Paris Agreement invites countries to formulate and submit long-term strategies. Unlike NDCs, they are not mandatory.The operational details for the practical implementation of the Pa

S OF THE PA

(3.6F) above pre-industrial times while pu

ontribution to cutting e

climate finance to adapt to climate

r: The Paris A

CLIMATE ISSUE

greatest ally against climate change? Learn more about how climate change impacts are felt across different se

ER

t to renewables is our only hop

O

od is produced, affects our he

C

d to safeguard the ocean as our

IVER

versity is essential for limiting carbon

A

climate system as an essential carbon s

A

cably linked. Learn more about how cli

IVES FO

oncerns such as jobs and gender equality, unlocking finance, building sustainable infrastructure, using nature-based solutions, and advancing adaptation and climate resilience. The United Nations' role as a convener is needed more than ever to encourage peop

ER

alition: See how the world is coming together to deliver efficient, climate-friendly cooling for all, including through enhanced national climate plans. The coalition highlights promising innovations such as "cooling paper" that keeps temperatures down in buildings. The Energy Efficiency Alliance: Three Percent Club: A coalition of government, corporate and non-governmental leaders, the alliance champions accelerated energy efficiency, h

Y AND T

ed to shifting all forms of transport to zero emissions. It researches issues like rural access and making the eco

has a moonshot ambition: commercially viable, deep sea zero-emission vessels operating by 2030. The Sea Cargo Charter defines benchmarks to decarbonize the tr

the initiative has established industry groups and developed road maps for heavy industries where ca

SS AND

set ambitious and science-based emissions reduction targets, aiming for net zero in line with a 1.5°C

elsinki Principles guide measures such as effective carbon pricing and the integration of climate change into macroeconomic and fiscal policy, among other issues.Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance: An international group of over 40 institutional investors with over $6.6 trillion in assets ha

CE AND A

w has 65 members with nearly $10 trillion in assets and has helped develop tools for modelling risk-informed cash flow and infrastructure priorities. Coalition for Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure: Governments, UN organizations, multilateral banks, businesses and knowledge institutions are collaborating to build resilience to climate and disaster risks into infrastructure systems. A fellowship programme promotes research and innovation. InsuResilience Group Partnership Vision 2025: The partnership helps strengthen the resilience of developing countries a

and development communities leverages knowledge, the exchange of solutions and new

BASED S

ommit to a science-driven, ambitious new deal for nature. It hinges on protecting at least 30 per cent of the plan

environmental organizations and actors from the Global South to build resilience to ocean risk. It pioneers fin

PLAN

ks has developed the LUCI framework to help 2,000 cities prepare and finance climate projects, realizing 20 per cent of this target so fa

ATE

level, climate events provide space for knowledge exchange and

Jun

l Ada

nvironm

ld Environment Day join the global effort to #Beat Plastic Polluti

Jun

ACTION I

Bicy

ct on carbon emissions. Biking is one of the most eco-friendly ways

May

Day for Biolog

risk of species extinction increases with every degree of warming.

Apr

action i

nal Mother

rive change by shifting consumption patterns and demanding action from governments and industry. The more people act now

Heal

public health challenges that have required us all to come together with science, solutions and

Apr

ACTION I

OF SPORT FOR DEV

play. On the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, learn how sport

hange Confer

, mobilizes action, and can provide a significant opportunity to look at th

S RE

pe increase more tha

continent in the world. As the warming trend continues, exceptional heat, wildfires, floods and other climate change imp

er 30

CLU

he same fight. We must connect the dots between climate change, water scarcity, energy shortages, glo

QUOTES FOR CL

ter, and a livable climate are inalienable human rights. And solving

rdo Di

is less important than the economy, try hold

McPhe

on the back burner. If we don't address cli

rad A

to protect and hand on the pl

çois H

sting of climate change, and we are the las

Ins

cannot pretend the danger does not exist - o

n Ki

where all of us have a mutual interes

Bird

world of looming challenges and increasingly limited resources. Su

Ki-

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