Global warming has been a global concern for many years, and its effects intensified in the last decade alone. For starters, the world has recently seen a sharp acceleration of current warming rates and the overall temperatures. Consequently, researchers, environmentalists and government officials have become increasingly concerned about the current and potentially devastating implications of global warming. This article aims to discuss the current facts around the rate of global warming increase and the consequences associated with it.
To begin with, several scientific studies carried out over the past few years have pinpointed that the temperature increase has become more notable in the last decade than in previous years. In fact, according to the World Meteorological Organization’s State of the Climate Report, the last decade (2010–2019) is the warmest ever recorded, with 2019 representing the world’s second warmest year since records began in 1850. Moreover, the statistics show that since the 24th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24) in 2018, the rate of global warming has increased from 0.2-0.25 ºC per decade, to 0.4-0.6 ºC per decade.
Additionally, over the same period of time, a number of extreme records have occurred around the world. For instance, 2019 was the fifth consecutive warmest year in Europe and the warmest ever in western and northern Europe, while severe heatwaves, floods, and droughts had an alarming effect on many countries. Moreover, it is projected that the rise in global temperature will lead ocean levels to rise as the ice sheets melt, making coastal regions inundated and becoming intolerable to human life. These events, in addition to an increase in extreme weather phenomena – such as heat waves and heavy rains – are expected to increase in intensity and frequency in the years to come.
Overall, the facts mentioned above have led several experts to call for detailed and knowledgeable policies that can help combat climate change and its effects. According to a study conducted by the United Nation’s Environmental Programme, the magnitude of the global warming rate and the number of extreme climate events recently experienced, are considered as a red flag for policy makers and society in general. Therefore, it is urgently needed that a new set of international targets and measures are put in place that can ensure a neutral carbon balance and counteract the rise in temperatures, despite being a major challenge for all countries.
In conclusion, the increasing temperature of the planet has become a visible threat in the last decade. The facts point out that the rate of warming has accelerated and it is expected to increase in the coming years, causing severe damage to the planet. Consequently, all countries, organizations and experts need to take the necessary actions to tackle this existential problem, by making the necessary adjustments and investments to mitigate its effects throughout the world.
