UN Warns of 'Irreversible' Consequences of Global Warming Exceeding 1.5 Degrees Celsius
Two UN reports warn of catastrophic repercussions of global warming exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius, with impacts on ice and the United States
Translated by Qiyas from كويت نيوز — Original source
Two United Nations reports warned on Monday that exceeding the global warming threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius would have “irreversible” consequences for glaciers, sea ice, and frozen regions on Earth, calling for action “as soon as possible.”
One of the reports noted that surpassing the 1.5-degree Celsius global warming threshold compared to pre-industrial levels—the target set out in the Paris Agreement—“would lead to major and often irreversible” impacts on the cryosphere and polar oceans, “that is, areas characterized by snow, ice, and permafrost on the planet.”
The melting of glaciers, sea ice, and permafrost, along with the accelerating rise in sea levels, would trigger numerous consequences, including increased flood risks, economic and environmental losses, worsening water resource shortages, and heightened dangers in mountainous areas.
The second report warns of severe consequences if global warming exceeds 2.8 degrees Celsius and remains at that level throughout the next century.
Sea levels could rise by up to five centimeters annually by 2150, compared to the current rate of about 0.45 centimeters.
Additionally, the melting of permafrost could release annual carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to those currently emitted by the United States, the world’s second-largest polluter.
At the 2015 UN Climate Conference in Paris, countries agreed to keep global temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels, while continuing efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
However, the United Nations announced in September that the world is no longer on track to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Scientists emphasize the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels to shorten the period during which global warming exceeds the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold and to bring temperatures back below that level as quickly as possible.
