Balkans | The Earth’s surface has warmed faster since 1970

The Earth’s surface has warmed more rapidly since 1970, while climate change has slowed the growth of agricultural production globally over the past 50 years.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 2023 Climate Change Synthesis Report, the global Earth’s temperature increased by 1.1°C between 2011 and 2020 compared to the period between 1850 and 1900.

But, in particular, increased human activity through greenhouse gas emissions has caused global warming, and at the same time, the temperature on Earth has increased more than the temperature in the oceans.

Global greenhouse gas emissions continued to increase at an unprecedented level between 2010 and 2019, driven by the lifestyle, consumption and production habits of regions.

Human-caused climate change has negatively affected weather events and climatic conditions in many parts of the world. This has had widespread negative impacts on food and water security, health, the economy and society. The vulnerable communities least responsible for the current climate change have been disproportionately affected.

It is reported that there has been a faster increase in surface temperature since 1970, and the level of human-caused temperature increase has increased from 0.8 to 1.3°C from 1850-1900 to 2010-2019.

Humans are causing climate change

Human-induced climate change causes meteorological and extreme weather events such as heat waves, heavy rains, droughts, and tropical cyclones to occur in every region.

While climate change is causing massive damage to terrestrial, freshwater, cryosphere, coastal and ocean ecosystems, it has been indicated that the extent and magnitude of climate change is causing larger impacts than previously expected.

Biological responses, including geographic distributions and changes in seasonal periods, are unable to deal efficiently with the current state of climate change.

The extinction of hundreds of native species is causing higher temperatures and mass deaths on land and oceans.

Impacts on ecosystems, such as the effect of hydrological changes from melting glaciers, and changes from thawing permafrost in some mountain and arctic ecosystems, are becoming irreversible.

He states that ocean acidification, sea level rise or a regional decrease in precipitation are also caused by human-induced climate change. Climate change is accelerating desertification and soil degradation, particularly in coastal and riparian regions, arid regions and permafrost.

Climate change has slowed the growth of agricultural production globally over the past 50 years

Nearly 50 percent of coastal and wetlands have been destroyed in the past 100 years as a result of rising sea levels, rising temperatures and extreme weather events.

While climate change has negatively affected food security, it has also affected water security due to temperature, changes in precipitation patterns, decrease and disappearance of cryospheric elements, and increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather events. This has hampered attempts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

According to the report, despite an increase in average agricultural production, climate change has slowed the growth of agricultural production globally over the past 50 years.

The current level of global warming is associated with the average risk of increasing water scarcity in drylands. An estimated half of the world’s population experiences severe water shortages at some times of the year, depending on the climate.

The increase in weather events and extreme weather events is causing millions of people to experience food insecurity and reduced water security.

City life is also negatively affected by climate change.

In cities, climate change also has negative impacts on human health, livelihoods and basic infrastructures. Rising temperature in cities increases air pollution and leads to limited functioning of infrastructures.

Climate change, particularly in urban infrastructure, transportation, water, sanitation and energy systems, is causing economic losses and disrupting services.

Climate change also negatively affects people’s physical and mental health. Economic impacts that may be related to climate change affect people’s lives and cause social and economic impacts.

Global warming will continue to increase

In the report, global warming is expected to continue increasing in the near future in all scenarios and models in the studies.

International climate agreements, growing national aspirations for climate action, and increasing public awareness are driving attention to climate change at various levels of government.

Future warming will be caused by emissions and will affect all major components of the climate system. Most climate-related risks are believed to be higher than previously assumed, and the long-term effects are expected to be many times greater than they are now.

Combating climate change and global warming requires effective climate plans, political commitment and well-structured layered governance, institutional framework, law, policy and strategy. Clear objectives, adequate financing and tools, coordination with various policy areas, and overall management processes are needed.

AA