Climate Crisis
Definition
The Climate Crisis refers to the serious problems that are being caused, or are likely to be caused, by changes in the planet’s climate, including
- weather extremes and natural disasters
- ocean acidification and sea-level rise
- loss of biodiversity
- food and water insecurity
- health risks
- economic disruption
- displacement, and even violent conflict.[1]
Since the 1800s, human activities have caused the Earth’s average temperature to increase by about 1.2° C - with more than two-thirds of this warming occurring since 1975. This is already causing significant damage to human societies and natural ecosystems in many parts of the world. More than 3 billion people live in places that are very vulnerable to the climate crisis, with lower income countries being disproportionately affected.
Scientists expect that an increase beyond 1.5°C would begin to lead to a series of dangerous tipping points that would make many changes irreversible and pose a very serious threat to human civilization. This is why governments must act now to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and chart a course for reaching net zero in the coming decades, invest in adaptation to the unavoidable impacts of climate change, and protect and restore natural ecosystems and biomes upon which the planet depends.
