The earth could warm by 1.5 degrees in the next two decades if drastic measures do not limit greenhouse gas emissions. This is reported by the UN climate panel IPCC, which calls the rise in sea levels due to global warming irreversible.
The authors of the report conclude that humanity is undeniably responsible for global warming. They predict that the earth will warm by more than 2 degrees in this century. However, that is seen as a crucial limit.
The climate experts say the past decade was probably the warmest period in the past 125,000 years. Due to a combination of emissions and deforestation, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is at levels not seen for about 2 million years.
The report’s presentation was preceded by weeks of coverage of deadly floods, heatwaves and massive wildfires in parts of Europe. In addition, a major international climate summit will be held in Glasgow next November, COP26.
That meeting is seen as the most critical climate summit since the Paris climate conference in 2015 when countries agreed to limit global warming, preferably to 1.5 degrees and a maximum of 2 degrees.
The IPCC does not conduct research itself, but it summarizes how experts from dozens of countries view the state of affairs regarding climate change every few years. They also publish a summary for policymakers, which country representatives must approve.