In the 2015 Paris climate agreement, the countries participating in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) agreed to a common target:
To hold the rise in global average temperature “well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius”, what this means is that, global temperature rise must be kept below 2 degree Celsius by the end of this century to avoid the worst impacts.
A recent study by the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change or the IPCC have released a report stating that, at our current rate global average temperature is likely to be 1.5 degree Celsius by 2030.
Can a 0.5 degree Celsius make such a difference?
Well let’s look at some statistics. Due to Climate change there will be rise in temperatures which in turn will melt the ice in Artic, resulting in rising sea levels. At 1.5 degree Celsius the average rise of sea level rise will be between 25 to 77 cm but at 2 degree Celsius it can go up to 10 cm more and affecting more than 80 million people. Fresh water will become even more scarce at 1.5 degree Celsius. Severe drought is likely to affect 350 million people but at 2 degree Celsius that number grows to 411 million people. At 2 degree Celsius more than the expected temperature rise,99 percentage of the Coral reefs will be dead and this will affect marine diversity and will displace 500 million people who are dependent on it for food, recreation and jobs. 150 million people will die of premature deaths at 2 degree Celsius because of Air pollution and this is irrespective of Heat wave, drought or famine. If we do not do anything right now, by the end of 21st century levels can go up to 3 degree Celsius and the consequences will be apocalyptic.
So, we have to take drastic measures to reduce our Co2 emissions.
Steps like investing in Renewable energies, Electrification of industries that run on Fossil fuels, Implementation of Carbon Tax and Population control are that can be adopted by the world governments with immediate effect.
We are now passing through a phase where the entire world is fighting the pandemic where millions are affected and thousands lost their lives but even in this worse times there are rays of hope that shows us that the time is not too late for us to turn around so that we can save our planet. 2.6 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, about 8% of the estimated total for the year, will never be emitted into the atmosphere, according to estimates by the International Energy Agency because of the global lockdown. What this means is that this was the lowest emissions of Co2 in decades. Most of the busy cities in the world reported clear skies and less air and noise pollution in over decades.
So, we are capable of altering our ways that could change the course of our fate. Climate change is an important issue that are affecting all and it must be politically represented in every nation and should place sincere and immediate effort to make our environment a better place to thrive.
Image Credit : NRDC
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