Concerns over timely action against global warming

A survey reveals a chilling truth: scientists' growing concern about global warming with 77% believing that an increase of 36.5°F is likely

A recent poll conducted by The Guardian, which involved 380 authors of the IPCC reports, presents a grim outlook on the current state of the climate crisis. According to the vast majority of scientists interviewed, it is unlikely that global warming will stay below the 34.7°F threshold set by the Paris Agreement.

Instead, 77% of experts believe that we will surpass at least 36.5°F by the end of the century, with nearly half anticipating a rise up to 37.4°F. This perspective is alarming, as even a modest increase in global temperature will have catastrophic consequences for the planet and our lives.

Scientists warn that every fraction of a degree increase in temperature will lead to increasingly severe impacts on the environment, society, and the economy. Despite most respondents expressing skepticism about the ability to keep global warming within acceptable levels, experts insisted that there can be no slowdown in the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Concerns over timely action against global warming

Some still hold cautious optimism about the possibility of meeting the Paris Agreement’s goals. Henry Neufeldt from the United Nations Climate Center in Copenhagen suggested that solutions to limit warming to 34.7°F are available and could be implemented within the next 20 years.

However, there are fears that the pace of action may not be sufficient and that one or more tipping points in the climate system could be exceeded, leading to even more severe consequences. This leads to the fact that only 6% of the scientists interviewed still believe it is possible to remain below 34.7°F of global warming.

Moreover, some scientists are even more pessimistic. 17% assert that the most catastrophic scenario predicted by the IPCC, suggesting over 39.2°F of global warming, is likely. It is therefore a common opinion among experts that there is an urgent need to act decisively and swiftly to address the climate crisis by implementing policies and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to ongoing climate changes, in order to limit the damage and preserve the health of our planet for future generations.