When discussing global warming, it’s important to recognize that there are two distinct conversations: whether or not global warming is happening, and whether or not the global temperature is decreasing or increasing. Much of the debate is focused on whether or not global warming is real, with a smaller percentage considering whether or not the effects are getting better. To answer the question, “Is the global warming getting better?”, short answer is “no”, with a few important caveats.
Climate change is a term used to describe the long-term shift in global weather patterns, which is causing sea levels to rise, ice caps to melt, oceans to acidify, and extreme weather events to become more commonplace. This change is largely attributed to human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases. It is the increase of temperatures that is most popularly called “global warming.”
A consensus among the scientific community is that global warming is real, and that it is quickly accelerating due to human activities. In the past 100 years, the average global temperature has risen by 1.5°F. This rise is particularly concerning as many of the world’s ecosystems have adapted to this new climate, and are now vulnerable due to human-caused changes.
The data shows that global warming is not getting better. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has predicted that the global mean surface temperature will rise by 1.5°C–4.5°C by the end of this century if we do not reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While there is no consensus on the exact amount of warming that this will lead to, there is a consensus that global warming is happening, and will continue to accelerate unless we act.
In addition to this, there is some evidence to suggest that the effects of global warming may be worse than previously thought. For example, researchers have now observed that some climate changes, such as the Arctic amplification of global warming, have been happening faster than expected. This amplification means that the Arctic regions are warming faster than the rest of the planet, leading to further melting of polar ice caps and more extreme weather.
Despite these worrying results, there is some good news.
Since the 91 Paris Agreement of 2015, countries have made progress in reducing emissions. The number of countries signing the agreement has grown from an initial 197 signatories to 197 countries plus the European Union. This development is encouraging but it is not enough to halt the effects of global warming. Technology such as renewable energy, carbon capture and storage, and reforestation are important pieces of the puzzle but will only be effective if we can reduce the amount of CO2 that is emitted into the atmosphere.
Overall, it is clear that global warming is getting worse, and that significant action needs to be taken in order to reduce its effects. Governments, industries, and individuals must work together in designing and implementing strategies that will Phase out greenhouse gas emissions, and invest in renewable energy sources. Only by doing so can we ensure a safe and sustainable future for generations to come.
