Earth's average temperature on the rise, report warns
The World Meteorological Organization released a report warning that Earth's global temperature one of the next five years might exceed 1.5°C.
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A statistic on Earth's average temperature from the World Meteorological Organization is cause for concern. The WMO issued a warning earlier this month that it is conceivable that Earth's average temperature from now through 2028 will, for a brief time, surpass 1.5° Celsius, or 34.7° F. This likelihood has risen to an 80% probability.
It's important to know that the 1.5°C climate threshold is the level of warming that the countries who signed the Paris Agreement in 2015 have agreed to try and stay below. The 80% chance of at least one year in the next five topping the 1.5°C limit has climbed during that time. Back in 2015, the probability was closer to a 0% chance.
Yes, times have certainly changed.
Data from the WMO show the chance rose to 20% from 2017 to 2021, then jumped all the way to 66% from 2023 to 2027.
Why the jump? What's causing this? Simple. The WMO issued a warning in May 2023 that global temperatures were predicted to reach historic levels due to increased greenhouse gases that would increase the nature of weather events. And, with 2023 being Earth's warmest on record, the WMO is predicting that one year between 2024 and 2028 would beat 2023.
Records going back to 1850 confirmed that 2023 was the warmest calendar year in global temperature data with an average temperature of 58.96° Farenheit. This is 0.27°F higher than the previous high set in 2016. .
The WMO's report highlights the fact that an exit ramp is needed to get off the highway to, using their words, "climate hell." They also said the ongoing battle to not have another year of being No. 1 will be won or lost in this decade.
The Paris Agreement has become somewhat of a lightning rod these days with the two camps of those who believe in climate change and those who don't. Its intent was to keep the long-term global average temperature as much below the 2°C mark as possible. The 196 countries agreed to pursue efforts to limit the change to 1.5°C by 2100.
The WMO cites greenhouse gas emissions as the greatest culprit, and therefore, threat to climate change. They warn that if nothing happens, the costs identified with extreme weather would go into the trillions of dollars, and millions of lives affected.
It is also reported that global temperatures could reach a crucial 3.6°F above pre-industrial levels by the year 2050, which is faster than what was previously expected by scientific consensus. This increase would be catastrophic. There would be big changes in local and regional climate, and risks to public health and safety. The agriculture community and our ecosystems would be adversely affected.
The report went further by suggesting a few things. First, we are not listening to what our planet is trying to tell us. It suggests all of us are the danger but also adds that we are the solution — the solution includes reducing global emissions 9% every year until 2030 to keep the 1.5°C limit. So, it can be done.
It's not just a cutback in greenhouse gas emissions that is needed, but the rest of the world's population needs to do their part. KXAN authors Saving The Planet each day during our CW Austin Morning broadcast during which we offer tips on how we can do a better job of saving the planet.
It really is important that all of us do our part in raising awareness and doing those little things that, when added up, could go a long way to help save Mother Earth.