“Unprecedented Climate Change: Human-Induced Warming at Highest Rate Ever Recorded”
Global warming caused by humans is accelerating at an alarming rate, with new research by over 50 leading international scientists revealing that the Earth is warming at 0.26 degrees Celsius per decade. This is the highest rate of warming since records began, highlighting the urgent need for action to combat climate change.
The second annual Indicators of Global Climate Change report, led by the University of Leeds, shows that human-induced warming has increased to 1.19 degrees Celsius over the past decade (2014-2023), up from 1.14 degrees Celsius in the previous decade. In 2023 alone, warming caused by human activity reached 1.3 degrees Celsius, indicating a worrying trend of rising temperatures.
The analysis also points out that the remaining carbon budget – the amount of carbon dioxide that can be emitted before committing the planet to 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming – is only around 200 gigatonnes, equivalent to about five years’ worth of current emissions. This is a significant decrease from previous estimates, highlighting the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Professor Piers Forster, director of the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures at the University of Leeds, emphasized the need for immediate action to address climate change. He stated that while climate action has slowed the rise in greenhouse gas emissions, global temperatures are still increasing at an alarming rate.
The report also highlights the effects of reductions in sulphur emissions from the global shipping industry, which have lessened the cooling effect on the climate. This, combined with ongoing high levels of greenhouse gas emissions, is contributing to the rapid warming of the planet.
As climate experts gather in Bonn to prepare for the COP29 climate conference in November, the report serves as a stark reminder of the need for urgent and ambitious climate action. It is hoped that the findings will inform new nationally determined contributions to the UNFCCC by 2025, as countries work towards cutting emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change.
The latest research underscores the critical importance of addressing climate change and transitioning to a low-carbon economy to mitigate the devastating impacts of global warming. With temperatures rising at an unprecedented rate, the time to act is now to secure a sustainable future for generations to come.