The Urgent Reality of Climate Change: 2020 and Beyond
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Chapter 1: A Brief Respite for Nature
During the pandemic, it appeared that nature received a brief break from human interference. Many shared heartwarming images and stories of wildlife reclaiming spaces, leading to hopes that the Earth might recover from the toll of human activity.
Despite this optimism, two research studies present a starkly different narrative. According to new data from EU satellites, 2020 is nearly tied with 2016 as the hottest year recorded, with temperatures exceeding the pre-industrial average by 1.24 degrees Celsius, as reported by the Copernicus Climate Change Service. In Europe, temperatures were 0.4 degrees warmer than in 2019, setting a new record. Regions like the Arctic and Siberia experienced temperature spikes of up to 6 degrees above average in certain areas.
According to the Copernicus Bulletin's December Highlights, December 2020 ranked as the sixth warmest December recorded, with the last six years featuring the highest temperatures for this month. The most significant temperature anomalies were noted across Canada, Greenland, Scandinavia, and in the ice-free regions of the Barents, Kara, and Chukchi Seas. Conversely, much of Central Asia, southern Russia, and parts of China experienced below-average temperatures. The extent of Arctic sea ice was the third lowest for December, closely trailing the second lowest.
Section 1.1: Unprecedented Climate Events
Extended periods of warmer weather and dry conditions led to severe wildfires in the Arctic, resulting in unprecedented carbon dioxide emissions—over a third higher than in 2019. The past decade (2010-2020) has proven to be the hottest in recorded history, with fossil fuel consumption and deforestation showing no signs of decline.
Subsection 1.1.1: Predictions and Warnings
The outlook for 2021 is troubling, as the UK Met Office forecasts that carbon emissions will rise by 50% compared to pre-industrial levels, with concentrations exceeding 417 ppm at some point between April and June.
Although some greenhouse gas emissions saw a decline in 2020 due to the pandemic, the accumulation of these gases in the atmosphere continues to rise. A recent study published in Nature Climate Change indicates that the existing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will likely elevate global temperatures by around 2.3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, surpassing the 2-degree Celsius target set by international agreements and far exceeding the more ambitious goal of 1.5 degrees established in the Paris Agreement.
Section 1.2: The Need for Immediate Action
Currently, the planet has already warmed by 1.1 degrees Celsius, making extreme weather events a common occurrence. As noted by Professor Richard Betts from the Met Office, “It took over 200 years for levels to increase by 25%, but now just over 30 years later we are approaching a 50% increase.”
There is a clear consensus that urgent action is necessary to combat these alarming trends.
Chapter 2: Lessons from the Past and Future Implications
The first video titled "One Million Years into Climate Change's Past" delves into the historical context of climate change, providing insights into how past events can inform our current understanding and future actions.
The second video, "What the Hottest Year on Record Means for Our Future," discusses the implications of 2020's climate data and the pressing need for global action to mitigate further warming.
For more information on the intersection of science and history, visit 360onhistory.co.uk.