· 2 min read
illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Guardian or enjoy below
🗞️ Driving the news: According to top climate scientists, the extreme weather events observed globally in 2023 could become commonplace within a decade without urgent climate action
• The current devastations like heatwaves, wildfires, and floods are merely an introduction to what's forthcoming
🔭 The context: Despite prior warnings, the severity and frequency of the recent extreme weather have taken many by surprise, and have underscored limitations in current climate models
• The return of the El Niño climate pattern has also intensified global temperature increases this year
🌎 Why does it matter for the planet: Humanity's continued carbon emissions could be ushering the climate into a phase of rapid, intensifying destruction
• Communities worldwide are already suffering the effects of these climatic changes, with July 2023 being declared the hottest month in human history
⏭️ What's next: Scientists caution against potential climate triggers like Antarctic ice melt and ocean current disruptions
• While we haven't hit an irreversible point, a narrow window remains to mitigate severe impacts, chiefly by ending fossil fuel use
💬 One quote: “Knowing that we will look back on today’s extreme events as mild relative to what lies in our future is truly mind-boggling” (Prof. Andrea Dutton of the University of Wisconsin-Madison)
📈 One stat: To maintain a good chance of keeping global heating below 1.5C, global carbon emissions must decrease by 43%
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