Higher temperatures put pressure on our global ecosystem
The IPCC has stated that the pressure on our global ecosystems increases as temperatures rise. Higher temperatures will result in higher risks of severe and widespread occurrences of biodiversity loss, rising sea levels, flooding, extreme heat, droughts, and other natural phenomena that will lead to more damage, economic loss, and will have an adverse effect on human lives. Higher temperatures will also result in declining marine fisheries, further declining coral reefs, species loss, and reduced crop yields, among other consequences6
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The rationale for keeping global temperature rise below 1.5°C is clear. According to the IPCC, the consequences of a 2°C or higher temperature rise are significantly less certain as the increasing temperature may trigger several tipping points such as thawing of permafrost that releases large amounts of methane gas, melting of ice caps, contraction of the snow cover that reflects heat from the sun, disruption of ocean circulation and reduction of the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon7
. These irreversible natural processes would likely result in significantly warmer temperatures and have catastrophic consequences for life on Earth. However, if greenhouse gas emissions are reduced rapidly, it is still possible to limit global warming to 1.5°C8
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At the Paris climate conference, COP 21, in 2015, the world’s leaders made a historic agreement to keep global temperature increases well below 2°C and preferably below 1.5°C. In 2018, the IPCC emphasised the importance of adhering to the 1.5°C limit to avoid substantially exacerbating the damaging effects of climate change.
IPCC (2018) Special Report: Global Warming of 1.5°C.
IPCC (2018) Special Report: Global Warming of 1.5°C.
IPCC (2018) Special Report: Global Warming of 1.5°C.