John Kennedy at WMO stated. The report warns that reversing some of these changes could take hundreds or even thousands of years.
The report highlights various record-breaking statistics, such as the doubling of the sea level rise rate and the rapid loss of glacier ice, especially in regions like the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard and the tropical Andes. Additionally, the Arctic and Antarctic sea ice levels have hit record lows in recent years.
Kennedy emphasizes that events in these regions can have global climate implications, underscoring the urgency for action. The report also notes consecutive years of record ocean heat and surface temperatures, indicating a clear trend of warming.
While uncertainties exist in temperature measurements, the report points out the challenges in meeting the targets set by the Paris Agreement. Various methods for defining these targets show that the global climate is already warmer than the pre-industrial era, raising concerns about exceeding the agreed-upon 1.5°C limit.
Despite the uncertainties, Kennedy stresses the need for continued monitoring and efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change to prevent further escalation beyond critical thresholds.
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Source: www.newscientist.com