· 2 min read
illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece here in The Guardian or enjoy below
🗞️ Driving the news: US scientist James Hansen, who first warned about global warming in the 1980s, suggests we are moving towards a climate hotter than any point in the last million years
• He blames this trend on humanity’s inaction regarding the climate crisis
🔭 The context: Hansen’s testimony to the US Senate in 1988 was one of the first high-profile revelations of global heating
• Today, he warns that we have a 20% chance of experiencing extreme summer temperatures like those currently seen in the northern hemisphere, a significant increase from a 1% chance 50 years ago
🌎 Why it matters for the planet: The lack of action to reduce emissions since Hansen’s warning poses a severe threat to Earth's climate balance
• If this trend continues, temperatures could increase to levels not seen since before human existence, creating unprecedented challenges for our survival
⏭️ What's next: This year is likely to be the hottest ever recorded, with average global temperatures predicted to continue rising
• Despite these alarming statistics, some scientists are divided on whether this rate is accelerating or steady
💬 One quote: “We are headed wittingly into the new reality – we knew it was coming.” (James Hansen)
📈 One stat: Since the start of mass industrialization, the world has warmed by about 1.2C, causing an increase from a 1% to a 20% chance of having extreme summer temperatures, according to Hansen
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