Why this country declared an ocean current collapse a national security risk

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: New data reveals that the Earth’s warming rate has significantly accelerated over the past three decades, with temperatures increasing at a rate of 0.25°C per decade by 2025, compared to just 0.19°C per decade from 1970 to 2010
• This trend has been confirmed by NASA data and highlights a decisive shift in global warming, driven by human activity, that makes previous predictions of gradual warming less reliable

🔭 The context: Some of the increased warming can be explained by the reduction of cooling aerosols in the atmosphere
• Recent studies suggest that factors like decreasing cloud cover also contribute to the rapid rise in temperature

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The accelerating rate of warming presents greater risks for ecosystems, infrastructure, and global stability
• If this trend continues, it could lead to worsening heatwaves, droughts, and storms, with severe consequences for ecosystems and human societies

⏭️ What's next: Scientists are continuing to monitor the shifting dynamics of global warming, including the role of cloud cover and aerosols
• Governments and industries will need to adjust their climate strategies to prepare for faster-than-expected temperature increases and mitigate associated risks

💬 One quote: “The past warming rate is no longer a reliable predictor of the future,” said Robert Rohde, chief scientist at Berkeley Earth

📈 One stat: Temperatures over the past decade have increased by 0.27°C per decade, marking a 42% increase in the warming rate compared to the previous four decades

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