The world is very concerned about the rising temperatures. As a result, it set a goal to limit temperature rise to 2°C above pre-industrial levels. But the World Meteorological Organization has come out to claim that there is a 40% chance of the annual average global temperature reaching 1.5 °C temporarily in at least one of the next five years.
Temperature Rise Cause Of Concern
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has come out and cautioned that a 1.5°C warming has the potential to lead to terrible outcomes for the planet. The IPCC in its earlier special report concluded the need for “rapid and far-reaching” transitions in all sectors to limit global warming to 1.5°C. If the target needs to be fulfilled Global net human-caused carbon dioxide emissions would need to fall by about 45% from 2010 levels by 2030. The nations would then need to reach ‘net-zero’ carbon emission by 2050.
One such global effort was taken in 2015 to limit the rise in temperature. The Paris Agreement was agreed to keep global temperature rise this century below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. It was further decided that the members would try to limit the temperature rise below 1.5°C.
According to WMO, there is a 90% chance that one year between 2021-2025 recording is the warmest on record. This year would beat 2016 as being the warmest so far. The increased temperature could potentially make high latitude regions wetter. It also increased the chance of more tropical cyclones in the Atlantic. The warming is expected to lead to higher sea levels, more heatwaves, and other extreme weather. This in turn would cause greater impacts on food security and global health.
Risks of Missing The Target
The latest study is a warning siren to the world. The world is too early to get closer to the lower target of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. This calls for the world to fast-track to cut greenhouse gas emissions and achieve carbon neutrality.
Despite the cooling effect of La Nina in 2020, the world temperature is rising very fast. At this rate decrease in the annual growth rate of CO2 concentration due to the Covid-19 restrictions will be practically indistinguishable.
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