Story at a glance
- The report compiled by more than 200 scientists citing more than 14,000 studies asserted that humans are unequivocally warming the planet.
- The report says Earth is expected to reach or exceed average temperatures that are 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre industrial temperatures within the next decade or two.
- “Global heating is affecting every region on Earth, with many of the changes becoming irreversible. We must act decisively now to avert a climate catastrophe,” United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said.
A landmark report from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is sounding the alarm on human-caused climate change, warning the Earth is warming faster than scientists have previously observed and the goals outlined in the Paris climate agreement are falling out of reach.
The sobering report compiled by more than 200 scientists citing more than 14,000 studies asserts that humans are unequivocally warming the planet, going farther than any previous IPCC climate report in placing the blame for global warming on human activity.
The report says Earth is expected to reach or exceed average temperatures that are 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre industrial temperatures within the next decade or two, a key threshold researchers say is critical to stay under to stop severe weather events like wildfires and flooding from becoming far worse. The average global temperature has risen by 1.1 degrees Celsius since the mid-19th century.
If greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase, the planet could exceed 2 degrees Celsius of warming by 2100, according to the report.
“The evidence is irrefutable: greenhouse gas emissions are choking our planet & placing billions of people in danger. Global heating is affecting every region on Earth, with many of the changes becoming irreversible. We must act decisively now to avert a climate catastrophe,” United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said.
U.S. climate envoy John Kerry said the report underscored the “overwhelming urgency of this moment.”
“The science has been certain for decades, but the latest report makes it abundantly clear – the climate crisis is not only here, it is growing increasingly severe,” he said.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the report makes for “sobering reading.”
“It is clear that the next decade is going to be pivotal to securing the future of our planet. We know what must be done to limit global warming – consign coal to history and shift to clean energy sources, protect nature and provide climate finance for countries on the frontline,” he said.
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Members of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis said the report “confirms what Americans are experiencing firsthand – the devastating impacts of the climate crisis are here, and they are getting worse,” and urged Congress to pass President Biden’s climate plan.
Activist Greta Thunberg said the report contained no “real surprises” but confirms the world is in an emergency.
“We can still avoid the worst consequences, but not if we continue like today, and not without treating the crisis like a crisis,” Thunberg said.
The authors of the report said avoiding the worst impacts of climate change will require significant and immediate cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, although the world is nowhere near making emission cuts in line with the Paris agreement.
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