A striking new visualization looks like a flower in bloom but tells an alarming story about the planet

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🗞️ Driving the news: A new visualization by climate scientist Zeke Hausfather illustrates the alarming rise in global temperatures from 1940 to 2024
• The graphic, which resembles a blooming flower, shifts from blue to deep red as temperatures increase
• It highlights the rapid and unprecedented warming of the planet

🔭 The context: The visualization compares daily global temperature anomalies to pre-industrial levels, showing a clear acceleration in warming
• Both 2023 and 2024 recorded extraordinary heat, with 2023 being the hottest year in history
• Scientists struggle to fully explain the recent rapid rise, though fossil fuel emissions and El Niño play major roles

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Crossing the 1.5°C threshold, even temporarily, signals increased risks of extreme weather, wildfires, and ecosystem collapse
• Every fraction of a degree of warming intensifies the threat to human livelihoods and biodiversity
• Without immediate emission reductions, climate impacts will worsen

⏭️ What's next: Scientists warn that global warming is accelerating, demanding urgent climate action
• Reducing emissions is critical to slowing temperature rise and preventing catastrophic environmental consequences
• The visualization serves as a stark reminder of the need for swift policy changes

💬 One quote: “Global warming has accelerated in recent years and poses a major threat to our livelihood and to the natural world if we do not take action to reduce emissions.” — Zeke Hausfather, climate scientist

📈 One stat: 2023 was the hottest year on record and the first calendar year to breach 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels

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