IPCC Report on Current Status and Trends

Observed Warming and its Causes

Human Activities Causing Global Warming

• Humans are responsible for global warming, caused mainly by greenhouse gas emissions. The global surface temperature has increased by 1.1°C above 1850–1900 in 2011–2020.
• The increase in global greenhouse gas emissions is due to unsustainable energy use, land use and land-use change, lifestyles and patterns of consumption and production across regions, between and within countries, and among individuals.

Topic	Details
Global Surface Temperature	The global surface temperature has increased by 1.09°C [0.95°C–1.20°C] in 2011–2020 compared to 1850–1900, with a larger increase over land than over the ocean. The global surface temperature has increased by 0.99 [0.84 to 1.10]°C higher than 1850-1900 in the first two decades of the 21st century. The increase in global surface temperature since 1970 is the fastest in any other 50-year period over at least the last 2000 years.
Human-caused Global Surface Temperature Increase	The likely range of total human-caused global surface temperature increase from 1850–1900 to 2010–2019 is 0.8°C–1.3°C, with a best estimate of 1.07°C. Over this period, well-mixed greenhouse gases (GHGs) contributed to a warming of 1.0°C–2.0°C, and other human drivers (principally aerosols) contributed to a cooling of 0.0°C–0.8°C, natural drivers (solar and volcanic) changed global surface temperature by –0.1°C to +0.1°C, and internal variability changed it by –0.2°C to +0.2°C.
Well-mixed GHG Concentrations	Observed increases in well-mixed GHG concentrations since around 1750 are unequivocally caused by GHG emissions from human activities over this period. Historical cumulative net CO2 emissions from 1850 to 2019 were 2400±240 GtCO2, with more than half (58%) occurring between 1850 and 1989, and about 42% occurred between 1990 and 2019. In 2019, atmospheric CO2 concentrations (410 parts per million) were higher than at any time in at least 2 million years, and concentrations of methane (1866 parts per billion) and nitrous oxide (332 parts per billion) were higher than at any time in at least 800,000 years Mystical Skies Suriname (Timelapse videos) 2 / 2 Please continue with the HTML code from: 800,000 years

In 2019, atmospheric CO2 concentrations (410 parts per million) were higher than at any time in at least 2 million years (high confidence), and concentrations of methane (1866 parts per billion) and nitrous oxide (332 parts per billion) were higher than at any time in at least 800,000 years (very high confidence).

A.1.4 Global net anthropogenic GHG emissions

Overview

Global net anthropogenic GHG emissions have been estimated to be 59±6.6 GtCO2-eq in 2019, about 12% (6.5 GtCO2-eq) higher than in 2010 and 54% (21 GtCO2-eq) higher than in 1990, with the largest share and growth in gross GHG emissions occurring in CO2 from fossil fuels combustion and industrial processes (CO2-FFI) followed by methane, whereas the highest relative growth occurred in fluorinated gases (F-gases), starting from low levels in 1990.

Average annual GHG emissions during 2010-2019 were higher than in any previous decade on record, while the rate of growth between 2010 and 2019 (1.3% year-1) was lower than that between 2000 and 2009 (2.1% year-1). In 2019, approximately 79% of global GHG emissions came from the sectors of energy, industry, transport and buildings together and 22% from agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU). Emissions reductions in CO2-FFI due to improvements in energy intensity of GDP and carbon intensity of energy, have been less than emissions increases from rising global activity levels in industry, energy supply, transport, agriculture and buildings. (high confidence)

B. Possible Climate Futures

B.1. Further Warming and Changes in Climate

Many changes in the climate system become larger in direct relation to increasing global warming. They include increases in the frequency and intensity of hot extremes, marine heatwaves, and heavy precipitation, agricultural and ecological droughts in some regions, and proportion of intense tropical cyclones, as well as reductions in Arctic sea ice, snow cover and permafrost. These will continue to increase with additional warming (high confidence).

B.2. Weather and Climate Extremes

Extreme events are expected to become more frequent and more severe in a changing climate, including increases in frequency and/or intensity of: heavy precipitation, compound flooding, droughts, heatwaves, fire weather, and tropical cyclones and northerly cold surges in East Asia. These changes vary regionally, with tropical cyclones likely to decrease in frequency but increase in intensity over many ocean basins, and with a higher likelihood of increase than decrease in frequency or intensity of heavy precipitation over most land regions (high confidence).

B.3. Climate Stabilization, Mitigation Pathways and Adaptation

Stabilizing the climate will require strong, rapid, and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions could help to slow down or even reverse some of these changes, but the clock is ticking. We need to take action now to protect our planet and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

What can you do?

There are many things you can do to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change:

• Reduce your energy use by turning off lights and unplugging electronics when they're not in use.
• Use public transportation, walk, or bike instead of driving alone.
• Eat less meat, particularly beef, which has a larger carbon footprint than other meats.
• Support politicians and policies that prioritize environmental protection and action on climate change.
• Plant trees or support reforestation efforts.

Every action, no matter how small, can make a difference. By working together, we can create a more sustainable future for ourselves and for the planet.