The European Copernicus Observatory confirms this: temperatures have exceeded the threshold of 1.5°C of warming in the last two years, which raises fears of more extreme climatic events. But, concretely, what should we expect? Here are three phenomena that could get worse.
• Also read: The threshold of 1.5°C of warming exceeded, 2024 the hottest year
2024 was the hottest year ever recorded in history, the Copernicus Climate Change Service confirmed on Friday.
The average temperature of the Earth for 2023 and 2024 has also exceeded 1.5°C compared to the pre-industrial era, the most ambitious warming limit of the Paris agreement.
But that does not mean that the threshold has been officially crossed, insists Copernicus. It is still a sign that “global temperatures are rising beyond what modern humans have experienced.”
This should be seen as a “serious warning,” Johan Rockström, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, told AFP.
Heatwaves and extreme heat, floods, droughts: in recent years, we have been treated to a foretaste of the consequences of global warming of more than 1.5°C and these climatic disasters will multiply in the years to come .
Here are other phenomena that could occur as the world warms further:
Mass bleaching of coral reefs
Corals, these animals which shelter 25% of the planet’s marine life, are already going through periods of bleaching due to rising sea temperatures.
With global warming of 1.5°C, corals would decline by 70% to 90%. This proportion increases to 99% in a 2°C warmer world.
Such a phenomenon would have serious consequences for humans, since we benefit from reefs in several ways. These serve, in particular, as a barrier against cyclones, typhoons or hurricanes, in addition to being a source of food.
Incidentally, countries whose economies depend largely on tourism would also suffer the consequences of coral decline.
Melting of glaciers, ice caps and permafrost
Melting glaciers and ice caps would inevitably raise sea levels around the world.
Global warming of 1.5°C could cause sea levels to rise by up to 77 cm by 2100. Several coastal communities would thus be submerged.
The melting of glaciers could also unbalance atmospheric circulation. This could cause heat waves, both drought and excess precipitation, forest fires, in addition to threatening biodiversity.
That’s not all: significant quantities of carbon trapped in permafrost could be released into the atmosphere if it thaws. And more carbon in the atmosphere means more greenhouse effect.
Loss of biodiversity
It’s a vicious circle: climate change leads to loss of biodiversity and loss of biodiversity makes climate change worse.
The extinction of animal and plant species could disrupt biodiversity, in addition to increasing food insecurity and threatening human health.
Due to plant loss and ocean acidification, there is also less CO2 that can be absorbed, contributing to the greenhouse effect.
— With information from AFP
