The harsh reality of global warming has become increasingly clear in recent decades, with the effects of climate change causing more frequent and intense natural disasters, dwindling natural resources, and even the displacement of entire ecosystems. Scientists have warned the world of the damaging effects of global warming for years, yet the process continues to accelerate at alarming rates. But how big is global warming, both in terms of its current impact on the planet and its potential future consequences?
The most widely accepted measurement of global warming intensity is the average global temperature. While this value can fluctuate dramatically over short periods of time, the overall global long-term trend has decidedly been upwards. Since pre-industrial times, the average global temperature has increased by 1.1 degrees Celsius, a figure that seems small in isolation yet has major implications for the planet and its inhabitants. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), if there is an additional increase of two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2100, the consequences of climate change will be so severe that human activities in many regions of the planet would be highly disrupted, resulting in mass displacement and major food shortages.
As alarming as this may seem, it is by no means inevitable. Through collective efforts, human beings have the power to drastically reduce and even reverse the damage caused by global warming. Global initiatives such as the Paris Agreement focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in order to limit the rate of global warming and its negative impacts.
For the world to have a chance at mitigating the effects of global warming and avoiding drastic temperature increases by 2100, intense climate mitigation efforts must be implemented on a global scale, with all nations doing their part. Such efforts can take many forms, from the implementation of renewable energy sources to the development of carbon capture and storage technologies.
Moreover, individuals can also play their part by reducing their consumption of nonrenewable resources and participating in climate-friendly activities such as planting trees in deforested areas. By working together, all nations and citizens around the world can strive to mitigate the effects of global warming and safeguard the planet from further destruction.
Ultimately, global warming is a much larger problem than its current size would suggest. In its current state, it is already wreaking havoc on the planet and its inhabitants, yet a much larger global temperature increase in the future could have devastating consequences. As such, it is paramount that global actions are taken immediately in order to protect the planet, its species, and its people.