What is going to happen with climate change?

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the global average temperature has increased by about 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit since 1880. Two-thirds of the warming has occurred since 1975, at a rate of roughly 0.15–0.20 degrees Fahrenheit per decade. It is very likely that human activities have contributed to a substantial amount of the warming since the 1950s. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane trap heat in the atmospere and cause the Earth to warm.

Over the next few decades, the world is likely to see continued warming as greenhouse gases continue to rise. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a leading international body for the assessment of climate change, projects that the world will see a temperature increase of 2.5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit by the year 2100.

This projected increase in temperature will cause a host of other effects, including rises in sea level, more extreme weather events, and changes in precipitation. The world’s oceans will absorb about 93% of the extra heat, leading to thermal expansion and rising sea levels. Additionally, the warmer climate will cause more evaporation, leading to more extreme weather events like hurricanes and floods.

Climate change is a complex problem that requires a global effort to mitigate its effects. Individuals can help by reducing their own greenhouse gas emissions, but collective action is necessary to make a significant impact. Governments and businesses must work together to develop policies and technologies that will reduce emissions and help the world adapt to the changing climate.