Global Temperatures Will Continue to Rise Even if Greenhouse Gas Emissions Halt

Climate scientists say global temperatures will continue to rise even if we halt all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Climate models show that by 2050, global temperature will continue to warm by about 1.5 degrees Celsius or 2.7°Fahrenheit by 2050 and will reach up to 2-4 degrees Celsius or 3.6-7° degrees Fahrenheit by 2100.

The ongoing climate crisis has been causing frequent and more intense weather events than before, such as severe tropical storms, hurricanes and flooding due to the continuous increase in GHG emissions.

Increased greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere have caused a steady and rapid increase in global temperatures, resulting in catastrophic occurrences all over the world:

Statistically, wildfires that have taken place globally have added as much as 5 to 8 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. The US and Australia have experienced the most devastating wildfire seasons ever recorded .

The erratic rainy periods and warm temperatures have created drought hotspots that sent ravenous locusts swarming in the Middle East and in some parts of Africa and Asia. Deforestation occurrences have decimated crops, which now pose as threats to food security.

Catastrophic Consequences of Crossing Climate Change Tipping Points

Climate scientists have warned us before that going beyond tipping points can result in catastrophic consequences. Crossing tipping points leads to a series of small incidents or changes in significant levels enough to cause a larger, more significant change that could have devastating effects,

The following are some examples of the changes that take place once the planet crosses tipping points:

Thawing of permafrost layers that can turn into a mud slurry. This could have severe impacts on the environment because mud slurry cannot support the weight of infrastructures like roads, buildings and pipes or even soil vegetation.

Continuous melting of the Greenland ice sheet, which produces meltwater that flows completely into the ocean. Scientists estimate that a complete meltdowclimate n of the ice sheets will cause global sea level to rise by about 23 feet or 7 meters.

The aforementioned outcomes of the ongoing climate crisis are some of the reasons why scientists say that it’s imperative for us to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions by phasing out fossil fuels as rapidly as possible and by investing in renewable energy sources.