In recent years global warming has become an increasingly pressing issue. For decades, scientists have predicted a range of outcomes associated with rising temperatures, from mass extinctions to extreme weather events. People all over the world are increasingly aware of the severity of its impact, yet the question of “How long do we have global warming?” remains unanswered.
It’s no secret that temperatures have been steadily increasing since the industrial revolution. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an international scientific body, predicts an additional increase of at least 1.5°C by the end of this century. This level of warming could have potentially catastrophic consequences, such as more frequent and intense floods, droughts, dengue fever and wild fires.
The most catastrophic effects are likely to take place if warming reaches a rise of approximately 6°C by the end of the century – a level of warming described as “unprecedented in human history” by the IPCC. At this point, the destruction of coral reefs, the loss of biodiversity and severe sea-level rise are just a few of the dire consequences of global warming.
So how long do we have before reaching this alarming level of warming? A comprehensive report published in 2019 by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) concluded that, if drastic measures to reduce emissions are not taken, the effects of global warming will be irreversible within 30 years. This means that, unless we take swift and immediate action, we could be living through the destruction of the world’s biodiversity and the displacement of millions of people by the year 2050.
Thus, the surest way to prevent the destruction of our planet is to drastically reduce global CO2 emissions. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, this can be achieved through an increase in the production and utilisation of renewable and alternative forms of energy, switching to electric vehicles, harnessing and maximising the potential of large-scale reforestation, and implementing more stringent regulations on global industry.
The effects of global warming are already visible all over the world, with many coastal communities at risk of losing their homes, and countries in the developing world at a particularly high risk. The answers to ‘How long do we have global warming’ may be grim, but that doesn’t mean we should give up hope. We are still in time if we take meaningful and drastic action. This is the time for us to step up and show our planet the respect it deserves.
How Long Do We Have Global Warming
