A major UN (United Nations) report has found that our behaviour is permanently changing our climate. While some things may be reversible, others won’t be. Climate change has been considered a «code red» threat to humanity.
Extreme heatwaves
Forest fires
Drought
Flooding
These are just a few things which we will face more in the future. But if we act now we can avoid a complete catastrophe. Significant reductions in greenhouse gases are needed and commitment on a global scale is the way forward.
This aforementioned report comes from the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). They last published such a report, which looks at the science of climate change back in 2013. This report has been published just three months before COP26 – the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which is being held in Glasgow from 31 Oct to 12 Nov this year. During this conference, world leaders and scientists get together to decide on how to reduce the impact of client change. Many believe COP26 has a unique urgency, as now is the time to get climate change under some control or face the devastating, irreversible consequences.
Goals for COP 26:
1. Secure global net-zero by mid-century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach
2. Adapt to protect communities and natural habitats
3. Mobilise finance
4. Work together to deliver
At COP26 they must:
Finalise the Paris Rulebook (the detailed rules that make the Paris Agreement operational) and accelerate action to tackle the climate crisis through collaboration between governments, businesses and civil society.
Humans ARE warming the planet:
According to Prof Ed Hawkins, from the University of Reading, UK, and one of the report’s authors, the scientists cannot be any clearer on this point:
«It is a statement of fact, we cannot be any more certain; it is unequivocal and indisputable that humans are warming the planet.»
Climate change is not part of nature, it’s not how things were intended. The fact humans have caused climate change means we must correct things, as much as physically possible. Since 1970 global surface temperatures have risen faster than in any other 50 year period in the last 2,000 years.
Are you committed to helping reduce climate change?