At the moment, the world emits around 40 gigatonnes a year of CO₂ (and growing).
If the world reaches zero emissions by 2050, in each year until then, emissions must be no higher than 40% of 2021’s emissions on average. ⬇️ 🧵
To get emissions to peak and then start on a downward trend is fairly simple in theory.
There are several major changes that can be made in sectors like electricity, construction and transport, where there are readily available alternatives. ⬇️
But fossil fuel companies continue to fight to prevent action that threatens their profitability, lobbying governments to weaken legislation .
Even in countries with relatively strong climate policies, the power of the fossil fuel industry generates various contradictions.⬇️
As global temperatures rise, the intensity of storms increases
The graph show how much wetter storms that historically occurred once every 10 years are likely to become at temperatures 1.5°C or more above the late 19th century average
A number of factors are intensifying the water cycle, but one of the most important is that warming temperatures raise the upper limit on the amount of moisture in the air.
That increases the potential for more rain. ⬇️
An intensifying water cycle means that both wet and dry extremes will increase.
Rainfall intensity is expected to increase for most land areas.
But largest increases in dryness are expected in:
Mediterranean, southwestern South America and western North America ⬇️
The #IPCC report has been released. Here are what the experts say:
For the first time, the IPCC states unequivocally — leaving absolutely no room for doubt – humans are responsible for the observed warming of the atmosphere, lands and oceans. 🧵⬇️
Earth has warmed 1.09℃ since pre-industrial times
The #IPCC recognises the role of natural changes to the Earth’s climate
But it finds 1.07℃ of the 1.09℃ warming is due to greenhouse gases associated with human activities = pretty much all global warming is due to humans ⬇️
The #IPCC says human activities have also affected global precipitation (rain and snow).
Since 1950, total global precipitation has increased, but while some regions have become wetter, others have become drier. ⬇️