Scientists warn of a threat to the structure of life on Earth

13.10.2024/01/30 XNUMX:XNUMX    474

The 2024 State of the Climate Report is unpleasant reading. Along with highlighting how our planet has been pushed to the brink of disaster by reckless human activity, the report highlights the many ways in which the world is already beginning to feel the sting of climate change.

In an annual report released today, an international coalition of scientists provides an update on how Earth is coping with climate change by measuring dozens of categories called "planetary vital signs." At least 25 of those 35 vital indicators have already hit record highs, the report said.

"We are standing on the threshold of an irreversible climate catastrophe. There is no doubt that this is a global emergency. A significant part of the very fabric of life on Earth is under threat," the authors of the study write in their introduction.

First, the average temperature of the Earth's surface is record high. The three hottest days on record occurred in July 2024, with the hottest day on July 22, when the global average temperature was 17,15°C (62,87°F), breaking the record set the previous day.

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After a record-breaking summer, this year is on track to become the hottest on record, overtaking the previous record holder: 2023.

Increasing heat is already having a negative impact on the planet, not least because of the melting of ice sheets, glaciers and permafrost. In turn, the changes affect biodiversity, as well as the health and well-being of people.

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"Since the publication of our 2023 report, there have been many climate-related disasters, including a series of heat waves across Asia that killed more than a thousand people and sent temperatures reaching 122 degrees Fahrenheit [50 °C ] in some parts of India. ", said u statement William Ripple, a professor of ecology at Oregon State University (OSU) and lead author of the new report.

“Climate change has already displaced millions of people, with the potential to displace hundreds of millions or even billions. This is likely to lead to greater geopolitical instability, perhaps even a partial collapse of society,” Ripple added.

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However, the hot surface is only one aspect of the problem. There is also unprecedented warming of the ocean, and the water is becoming more acidic due to increased absorption of carbon dioxide.




All of these effects can be directly linked to greenhouse gas emissions, the vast majority of which are the result of burning fossil fuels.

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Despite recent efforts to curb emissions, annual fossil fuel consumption is projected to grow by 1,5 percent in 2023, supported by increases in coal (1,6 percent) and oil (2,5 percent). Renewable energy has also grown, although it still only accounts for about 1/14th of fossil fuel consumption.

"The rate of growth of methane emissions is accelerating, which is extremely worrying. Nitrous oxide, which is powerful and long-lived, is also at a record high," explained former OSU postdoctoral researcher Christopher Wolff.

Researchers say that first of all, the world needs to limit greenhouse gas emissions. They also suggest some more practical solutions, such as the introduction of a global carbon pricing mechanism to limit emissions from rich sectors, while generating funds that can be reinvested in further climate initiatives, and improving energy efficiency and energy conservation measures to support the transition away from fossil fuels . fuel

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The world's population can also play a role, the report says, by eating more plant-based foods and becoming better educated about the risks of climate change.

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"Despite six reports by the International Panel on Climate Change, hundreds of other reports, tens of thousands of scientific papers and 28 annual meetings of the UN Conference of the Parties, the world has made very little progress in the fight against climate change," Wolff said. .

"The future of humanity depends on creativity, moral firmness and perseverance. If future generations are to inherit the world they deserve, decisive action is needed, and fast.”