UN issues stark warning on climate change

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned that temperatures are set to rise by 1.5 degrees Celsius between 2030 and 2052 if global warming continues at its current pace

GLOBAL WARMING PROJECTIONS FOR 2100

Temperature in 2100

No climate policies
4.1 to 4.8°C

Current climate policies
3.1 to 3.7°C

National pledges
2.6 to 3.2°C

2°C consistent
1.5 to 1.7°C

1.5°C consistent
1.3 to 1.5°C

*Gigatonnes of equivalent carbon dioxide

150
100
50
0
-50   2015 2050 2100

Global greenhouse gas emissions in GtCO2e* / year
Historical emissions
1.5°C target: CO2 emissions would have to be cut by 45% by 2030 and reach zero by mid-century


CLIMATE IMPACTS                      Rise of 1.5°C          Rise of 2°C
           
Arctic: Sea ice-free summer        Once per century        Once per decade

Sea level rise: Exposure             31-69 million          32-80 million
to flooding in  2100                people worldwide       people worldwide

Extreme heat: Exposure at              About 14% of          About 37% of 
least once every five years          global population       global population

Severe drought: Increase                +350 million           +411 million 
in urban population exposed           people worldwide         people worldwide

Status of coral reefs          70-90% lost

Plants and animals              6% of insects,              99% lost
Species losing more             8% of plants,            18% of insects,       
than half of their range       4% of vertebrates        16% of plants,
                                                        8% of vertebrates



 
 Sources: IPCC, The New York Times, Reuters, The Conversation © GRAPHIC NEWS