UN climate report: now or never to limit global warming

Climate change is widespread, rapid, and intensifying. Many of the changes observed in the climate are unprecedented in thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of years, and some of the changes already set in motion—such as continued sea level rise—are irreversible over hundreds to thousands of years.

However, strong and sustained reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases would limit climate change. While benefits for air quality would come quickly, it could take 20-30 years to see global temperatures stabilize.

The key points are:

- The warming is faster

- All regions are affected

- Impact of human actions on past and future climate charges is undisputed

Rainfall patterns will change. Floods will get severe so will droughts. Sea level will rise. Glaciers will melt and so will seasonal snow cover. Oceans will get frequent heat waves. Extreme sea events that occurred once a century will now happen every decade and then every year by the end of the century. 

We cannot stop this. But we can slow it.

 The report also shows that human actions still have the potential to determine the future course of climate. The evidence is clear that carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main driver of climate change, even as other greenhouse gases and air pollutants also affect the climate. “Stabilizing the climate will require strong, rapid, and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and reaching net zero CO2 emissions. Limiting other greenhouse gases and air pollutants, especially methane, could have benefits both for health and the climate,” said Zhai.