Climate change is one of the greatest threats that humanity is facing today. The evidence for global warming is now irrefutable, and the consequences of our actions are becoming increasingly clear.

Climate change is caused by human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas, which releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat from the sun, causing the planet to warm up¹.

The effects of global warming are already being felt around the world, with more frequent and intense heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, and extreme weather events. These events are not only damaging to the environment, but also to human health, agriculture, and infrastructure².

A report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that global temperatures are estimated to rise 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels sometime around “the first half of the 2030s³.” This threshold is critical because it is widely considered to be the point beyond which the consequences of climate change become even more severe and irreversible.

If we continue to burn fossil fuels at the current rate, we could see temperatures rise by as much as 4 degrees Celsius by the end of the century⁴. This would result in a world that is almost unrecognizable from the one we know today, with devastating consequences for future generations.

When Earth crosses the critical threshold, we can expect to see more extreme weather events. Scientific studies posit that heatwaves, droughts, and hurricanes will all increase in frequency⁵.

• Sea levels will continue to rise, leading to flooding in coastal areas and the displacement of millions of people⁶.
• The Arctic will continue to melt, causing a feedback loop that will accelerate warming even further⁷.
• Biodiversity will suffer as ecosystems are destroyed by rising temperatures, leading to the extinction of many species⁸.

These are just some of the many consequences of global warming, and they will affect not only the environment, but also the economy, human health, and social stability.

The threat of climate change is not just a problem for future generations. It is a problem that we must address today.

Backed by 195 member states, the IPCC maintains that the world's existing and planned fossil fuel infrastructure, including coal-fired power plants, oil wells, factories, cars, and trucks, will generate enough carbon dioxide to warm the planet by approximately 2℃ this century¹.

To avoid crossing this critical threshold, it is necessary to cancel, retire, or clean up many of these projects.

The distinction between a 1.5℃ and 2℃ rise in temperature could have severe consequences⁹. The difference may result in tens of millions more individuals globally experiencing heat waves, water shortages, and coastal flooding that put their lives at risk.

In the U.S. alone, we could experience:

• Extended "Megadroughts" in western states
• Withering heat waves in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and British Columbia;
• Wildfires in Oregon, California, Montana, and others.
• Western wildfire smoke suffocating the residents of New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and other parts of the eastern seaboard.

Arctic sea ice may still exist, but they will most likely disappear in a world with a 2℃ temperature rise¹⁰.

Despite the risks, there is reason for hope. It may still be possible to hold global warming to relatively safe levels if we take action now. We have the technology and the resources to transition to a clean energy future, and many countries are already taking steps in the right direction. But we need to do more, and we need to do it quickly.

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time. The threat of crossing the critical threshold for global warming within the next decade is a wake-up call for all of us. We need to act now to prevent the worst consequences of global warming and to secure a sustainable future for ourselves and future generations. This will require unprecedented levels of global cooperation, investment, and action. But if we work together, we can create a world that is safer, healthier, and more prosperous for all.

Take the Climate Change Pledge and support a sustainable future for all!

More on this issue:

1. CarbonBrief (13 December 2017), "Analysis: Why scientists think 100% of global warming is due to humans."
2. Friends of the Earth, "Impacts of climate change: Heatwaves, hurricanes, storm surges."
3. Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (20 March 2023), "Urgent climate action can secure a liveable future for all."
4. Katie M. Palmer, Matt Simon, Wired (1 April 2020), "The WIRED Guide to Climate Change."
5. Michael E. Mann, Scientific American (1 April 2014), "Earth Will Cross the Climate Danger Threshold by 2036."
6. National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (20 January 2023), "Is sea level rising?."
7. Lorin Hancock, Wold Wildlife Fund (2023), "Six ways loss of Arctic ice impacts everyone."
8. Margaret Trani Griep, Patricia N. Manley, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, "Biodiversity and Climate Change."
9. Bruce Lieberman, Yale Climate Connections (4 August 2021), "1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius of additional global warming: Does it make a difference?."
10. Alejandra Borunda, National Geographic (13 August 2020), "Arctic summer sea ice could disappear as early as 2035."