Important Facts You Need to Know About Climate Change

Climate change is a pressing issue that affects us all, and it's essential to understand the facts behind it. Rising global temperatures are causing more frequent and severe heatwaves, droughts, and storms.

The consequences of climate change are far-reaching and devastating, with sea levels projected to rise by up to 1 meter by 2100. This will lead to more frequent and severe coastal flooding.

The good news is that we can still make a difference by reducing our carbon footprint and adopting sustainable practices. By using public transport, carpooling, or driving electric vehicles, we can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate change is a pressing issue that requires immediate attention. The Earth's surface temperature has increased faster since 1970 than in any other 50-year period over at least the last 2000 years.

Global warming is causing devastating effects on our planet. The global average temperature for the most recent 10-year period (2014-2023) is about 1.2°C warmer than it was in the pre-industrial era (1850-1900). In 2023, the Earth experienced its warmest year on record, with a global average near-surface temperature 1.45°C above the pre-industrial baseline.

The consequences of climate change are far-reaching. On an average day in 2023, nearly one third of the ocean was gripped by a marine heatwave. This is a stark reminder of the urgent need to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Here's a breakdown of the necessary reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming to 1.5°C:

The good news is that there are many ways to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By making conscious choices in our daily lives, we can collectively make a significant impact.

The Earth's temperature has been rising at an alarming rate, and it's essential to understand the facts behind this trend. Global surface temperature has increased faster since 1970 than in any other 50-year period over at least the last 2000 years.

The current temperature rise is staggering, with the Earth now about 1.2°C warmer than it was in the pre-industrial era (1850-1900). In 2023, the global average near-surface temperature was a record-breaking 1.45°C above the pre-industrial baseline.

It's essential to note that temperatures can fluctuate due to natural variability, including El Niño/La Niña and volcanic eruptions. However, long-term temperature changes are typically considered on decadal timescales.

The consequences of this temperature rise are far-reaching. On an average day in 2023, nearly one third of the ocean was gripped by a marine heatwave, and over 90 per cent of the ocean experienced heatwave conditions at some point during 2023.

Glaciers around the world thinned by an average of one meter per year, and sea level rose at a rate of 4.5mm per year between 2011 and 2020. Greenland and Antarctica lost 38 per cent more ice during the period 2011-2020 than during 2001-2010.

The impact of global warming is not just about the temperature itself, but also about the changes it brings. Every fraction of a degree of warming matters, and with every additional increment of global warming, changes in extremes and risks become larger.

Here are some key statistics on the current state of the Earth's temperature:

Climate change adaptation is crucial to safeguard people from the devastating effects of climate change. The estimated annual adaptation costs in developing countries are in the range of $70 billion, but could reach $300 billion by 2030.

Just 21 per cent of international climate finance goes to adaptation and resilience, about $16.8 billion a year. This is a significant gap, considering that a $1.8 trillion investment in early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, and other measures could generate $7.1 trillion in avoided costs and social and environmental benefits.

Small island developing States are particularly vulnerable to storms and sea-level rise, with disaster-related economic losses already as high as 200 percent of the size of a national economy. Without adaptive measures, the number of people who lack sufficient water for at least one month per year will soar from 3.6 billion today to more than 5 billion by 2050.

Solar-powered irrigation, weather alert systems, new crop varieties, and other adaptive measures can help avoid a drop-off in global agricultural yields by up to 30 percent by 2050. This can be achieved through a combination of technologies and practices that help farmers adapt to changing climate conditions.

Here are some examples of effective adaptation measures:

These measures can help prevent 250,000 additional climate-related deaths per year from 2030 to 2050, mainly from avoidable causes such as malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea, and heat stress.

China has a population of over 1.3 billion people, with about a third of them living in cities and the rest in the countryside. This massive population is more than any other country on Earth.

The official name of China is the People's Republic of China, and it's a communist state with a powerful central government.

China's diverse habitats are home to hundreds of species of animals and plants, including the giant panda, which can only be found in the misty mountains of central China. Unfortunately, there are only around 1,800 pandas left in the wild.

The Chinese government has taken steps to protect plant and animal species by creating over 1,200 reserves.

China is a vast country with a population of 1.393 billion people.

The official name of this massive nation is the People's Republic of China. It's a communist state with a unique form of government.

China covers an enormous area of 9,596,960 square kilometres. To put that into perspective, it's roughly the size of the United States.

The country has two main rivers: the Yellow River and the Yangtze River. The Yangtze River is an impressive 6,300 kilometres long, making it the longest river in Asia and the third longest in the world.

Mount Everest, the tallest mountain on Earth, sits on the border between China and Nepal.

Chinese Culture is incredibly rich and diverse, with a history that spans thousands of years.

China has a population of over 1.3 billion people, with a significant portion living in cities.

The Chinese have a long history of artistic expression, using materials like silk, jade, and bronze to create beautiful works of art.

Calligraphy, an artistic form of writing, originated in China and is still highly valued today.

Confucius, a government official from nearly 3,000 years ago, had a profound impact on Chinese culture and philosophy.

He taught people the importance of morality, kindness, and education, values that are still cherished in China today.

China has a rich and fascinating history that spans thousands of years. The country is home to one of the world's oldest civilizations.

The Chinese history is divided into dynasties, with the Qin dynasty marking the beginning of the first empire in 221 B.C. The last emperor was overthrown in 1912.

China was a land of invention, with many groundbreaking discoveries that left other countries behind. The Chinese invented paper, the magnetic compass, printing, tea porcelain, silk, and gunpowder, among other things.

The communist government began its rule in 1949, following a civil war with the Chinese Nationalists. This marked a significant turning point in China's history.

Nutrition is a crucial aspect of our daily lives, and being aware of the facts can help us make informed choices. The Nutrition Facts label on food products can provide valuable information about the calories and nutrients in a serving.

The number of calories in a serving can vary greatly depending on the product, with some foods containing as few as 50 calories per serving, while others can have over 1,000 calories per serving. For example, a serving of lasagna can have 280 calories, but eating the entire package can consume 1,120 calories.

To maintain a healthy body weight, it's essential to balance the number of calories you eat and drink with the number of calories your body uses. The general guide for nutrition advice is 2,000 calories a day, but this can vary depending on age, sex, height, weight, and physical activity level.

Calories are a measure of how much energy you get from a serving of food. In the example, there are 280 calories in one serving of lasagna.

The number of servings you consume determines the number of calories you actually eat. Eating too many calories per day is linked to overweight and obesity.

A general guide for nutrition advice is to balance the number of calories you eat and drink with the number of calories your body uses, with 2,000 calories a day being a commonly cited benchmark.

Your calorie needs may be higher or lower and vary depending on your age, sex, height, weight, and physical activity level.

Nutrition labels can be a bit confusing, but they're actually pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it.

Some labels will have a dual-column format, which shows the amount of calories and nutrients per serving and per package. This is helpful for products that are meant to be eaten in one sitting or multiple sittings.

These dual-column labels are required for certain products, like a bag of pretzels with 3 servings per container, which would show the calories and nutrients per serving and per package.

If you're looking at a single-ingredient sugar label, like pure honey or maple syrup, you won't see the amount of added sugars per serving, but you will see the percent Daily Value for Added Sugars. Manufacturers are encouraged to use a symbol to indicate this information, but it's not required.

Some single-ingredient sugars, like honey, are labeled in a special way to avoid confusing consumers into thinking more sugars have been added. This label will show the percent Daily Value for Added Sugars, and sometimes a footnote explaining the contribution to the diet.

The energy transition is a critical aspect of our planet's future, and it's essential to understand the role that minerals play in making it happen. Renewable energy technologies use significantly more minerals than other energy sources, with an electric car requiring six times the mineral inputs of a conventional car.

The market value of critical minerals has doubled to $320 billion in 2023, with lithium demand tripling, cobalt demand growing by 70%, and nickel demand increasing by 40%. This surge in demand is expected to continue, with the market value projected to reach $400 billion by 2050.

To put this into perspective, an electric car requires six times the mineral inputs of a conventional car. This means that as the demand for renewable energy technologies grows, so does the demand for these minerals.

The global supply of critical minerals is not yet prepared to support an accelerated energy transition. Supply from existing mines and projects under construction is expected to provide only half of projected lithium and cobalt needs and 80% of copper requirements by 2030.

Here's a breakdown of the regions and countries that are endowed with large reserves of critical minerals:

For the transition to clean energy to be truly just, these minerals must be extracted, processed, and transformed sustainably and equitably. As mineral extraction accelerates to meet demand, there must be guardrails in place to ensure responsible mining, circularity, and enhanced accountability and transparency across value chains.

Jobs are a crucial aspect of our lives, and the impact of climate change on employment is a pressing concern. A green transition is predicted to create 24 million jobs by 2030, far more than the 6 million that could be lost.

The renewable energy industry is a significant job creator, with 11.5 million jobs globally in 2019. This sector includes solar photovoltaic industries, which created 3.8 million jobs in 2019, and wind power, which generated 1.2 million jobs.

The benefits of a green economy extend beyond job creation. Cities that prioritize climate-smart growth in their recovery plans can gain as much as $7 trillion in investments and create 144 million new jobs by 2030.

A circular economy, which focuses on reduce, reuse, and recycle principles, could create around 6 million new jobs in recycling and waste management. This is a significant opportunity for economic growth and job creation.

Here are some key statistics on job creation in the renewable energy sector:

The gender balance in the renewable energy sector is also noteworthy, with women holding 32% of the total jobs in 2019, compared to 21% in the fossil fuel industry.

Health and Nature are deeply connected, and it's essential to understand the relationship between them. Climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity, with environmental factors taking the lives of around 13 million people every year.

Healthy ecosystems can provide 37% of the mitigation needed to limit global temperature rise. Damaged ecosystems release carbon instead of storing it, which is a significant contributor to climate change. This is why preserving natural habitats is crucial for both human health and the planet's well-being.

The value of health gains from reducing carbon emissions would be approximately double the global cost of implementing carbon mitigation measures. This means that investing in climate action can have a significant return on investment in terms of improved health outcomes.

Healthy ecosystems are crucial for our well-being. They can provide 37 per cent of the mitigation needed to limit global temperature rise.

Damaged ecosystems, on the other hand, release carbon instead of storing it. This is a major contributor to climate change.

Approximately 25 per cent of the globe's greenhouse gas emissions come from land clearing, crop production, and fertilization. Animal-based food contributes 75 per cent of this.

Coral reefs are particularly vulnerable to climate change and are projected to decline to 10-30 per cent of former cover at 1.5°C warming and to less than 1 per cent of former cover at 2°C warming.

More than 80 per cent of the human diet is provided by plants. The three main cereal crops – rice, maize, and wheat – provide 60 per cent of energy intake.

Here are some key statistics on the importance of nature:

Roughly 500 million people live in areas that experience desertification. Drylands and areas undergoing desertification are more vulnerable to climate change and extreme events.

Climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity, harming health through air pollution, disease, extreme weather events, and more. Every year, environmental factors take the lives of around 13 million people.

Meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement could save about a million lives a year worldwide by 2050 through reductions in air pollution alone. This is a staggering statistic, and one that highlights the importance of taking action on climate change.

The value of health gains from reducing carbon emissions would be approximately double the global cost of implementing carbon mitigation measures. This means that investing in climate action could have a significant return on investment in terms of public health.

In 2018, air pollution from fossil fuels caused $2.9 trillion in health and economic costs, about $8 billion a day. This is a massive burden on individuals, communities, and economies around the world.

Transportation produces around 20 per cent of global carbon emissions. Alternatives like walking and cycling are not only green but also offer major health benefits, such as reducing the risk of many chronic health conditions and improving mental health.

Here are some key statistics on the health impacts of climate change:

Healthy societies rely on well-functioning ecosystems to provide clean air, fresh water, medicines, and food security. These help to limit disease and stabilize the climate. But biodiversity loss is happening at an unprecedented rate, impacting human health worldwide and increasing the risk of emerging infectious diseases.

Water is a vital component of our lives, and its scarcity is becoming a growing concern. About two billion people worldwide don't have access to safe drinking water today.

Climate change is exacerbating both water scarcity and water-related hazards, such as droughts. Rising temperatures disrupt precipitation patterns and the entire water cycle.

Only 0.5 per cent of water on Earth is useable and available freshwater, and climate change is dangerously affecting that supply. Over the past twenty years, terrestrial water storage has dropped at a rate of 1 cm per year.

Limiting global warming to 1.5°C compared to 2°C would approximately halve the proportion of the world population expected to suffer water scarcity. However, there is considerable variability between regions.

Most of the freshwater used, about 70 per cent, is used for agriculture. It takes between 2000 and 5000 liters of water, on average, to produce a person's daily food.

Flood-related disasters have risen by 134 per cent since 2000, with most of the flood-related deaths and economic losses recorded in Asia.

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face unique challenges in maintaining their natural environments and promoting public health.

These islands are highly vulnerable to climate change, with rising sea levels and more frequent natural disasters threatening their very existence.

SIDS have a relatively small land area, which limits their ability to absorb shocks and recover from environmental disasters.

In fact, the Maldives, a SIDS, is projected to be the first country to be completely submerged due to sea-level rise.

The lack of natural resources and infrastructure in SIDS makes it difficult to provide access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare services.

For example, in Tuvalu, a SIDS, the government has had to rely on rainwater harvesting and desalination plants to meet the country's water needs.

SIDS also struggle to provide healthcare services to their populations, with limited access to medical facilities and specialized care.

In the Marshall Islands, a SIDS, the government has had to import medical professionals and equipment to address the country's healthcare needs.