The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has recently unveiled a report titled United in Science 2021, which brings together the latest climate science information from various international organizations. This comprehensive document was coordinated by WMO and received contributions from numerous entities, including the United Nations Environment Programme, World Health Organization, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Global Carbon Project, World Climate Research Programme, and the UK’s Met Office.
Climate Change: An Ongoing Concern
An alarming revelation in this report is that despite the global Covid-19 pandemic, the pace of climate change has not been slowed down. In fact, the pandemic has only caused a temporary dip in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2020. The report also shows that high latitude regions and the Sahel are likely to be wetter over the period 2021–2025 as compared to recent years.
Disturbingly, reduction targets set for mitigating climate change are not being met, leading to a growing risk of missing the Paris Agreement target of reducing global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The report anticipates that temperatures may soon exceed the threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial era, within the next five years.
Temperature: Alarming Trends
The average global temperature for the last five years was recorded among the highest in history. A rising global temperature is triggering severe weather conditions worldwide, severely impacting economies and societies. Climate hazards such as heatwaves, wildfires, and poor air quality pose severe threats to human health globally, with vulnerable populations facing the highest risk.
Greenhouse Gases: Increasing Concentrations
The concentrations of major greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere continued to rise in 2020 and over the first half of 2021, which is a concerning trend.
Fossil Fuel Emissions: Back to Pre-pandemic Levels
Emissions from fossil fuels, including coal, gas, and cement production, have bounced back to the levels of 2019 or even surpassed them in 2021.
Rising Sea Levels: A Major Threat
The global mean sea level has risen by a significant 20 cm from 1900 to 2018. Projections suggest that even with controlled emissions to limit further warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, the global mean sea level could rise by another 0.3-0.6 m by 2100, and possibly 0.3-3.1 m by 2300.
Loss of Work Hours & Productivity
The report documents the loss of an excess of 103 billion potential work hours globally in 2019, compared to 2000. This vast loss resulted from heat-related mortality and work impairment due to rising temperatures.
Suggestions for Improvement
The report suggests that more countries should develop long-term strategies consistent with the 2015 Paris Agreement. These goals for achieving net-zero emissions need to be translated into robust short-term policies and action plans. It also emphasizes the need for developing adaptation strategies, especially in vulnerable areas such as low-lying coasts, small islands, deltas, and coastal cities.
Covid-19 recovery efforts worldwide should be coordinated with national climate change and air quality strategies to mitigate risks from multiplying and cascading climate hazards, alongside providing health co-benefits.
The Way Forward
To effectively combat climate change, the world needs a breakthrough in protecting people’s livelihoods, with at least half of all public climate finance committed to resilience building and aiding adaptation. Greater solidarity is also required, including the complete fulfillment of the longstanding climate finance pledge to assist developing countries in taking climate action.