1.5° Celsius Threshold Breached on 86 Days: Why This Matters More Than You Think

1.5° Celsius Threshold Breached on 86 Days: Why This Matters More Than You Think  The Quint

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Nov 25, 2023 - 23:00
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1.5° Celsius Threshold Breached on 86 Days: Why This Matters More Than You Think

The Big Question: What Does ‘Global Temperature Threshold Breached’ Even Mean?

To put it simply, global warming or an increase in global temperatures causes climate change – which leads to extreme weather events and impacts all forms of life on earth.

The UN report says that for 86 days in 2023, the temperature breached the 1.5 degrees Celsius mark, on an average globally. 

Why this is important, Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment, tells The Quint is because this indicates that we are now going to see more of an increase in global temperatures.

But wait, let’s back up a little. What is the time frame we are looking at? The global temperature breached the 1.5 degrees Celsius mark, but compared to what?

And is the emissions of gases like carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases the only reason that we’re seeing an increase in temperatures? Not exactly, says Karthik Ganesan, Fellow and Director, Research Coordination, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).

He explains that we’ve been seeing warmer temperatures lately, which are highly driven by human activity-led climate change. But this time around, that alone is to not blame.

Any of this is not to say that El Nino is the sole reason that temperatures are increasing. Anthropogenic climate change and emissions have a lot to do with it too. 

Ganesan goes on to explain, “For instance, in 2022, when El Nino was not in cycle, the global temperature rise noted was 1.15 degrees Celsius, so there’s already a baseline that is anthropogenically created. Any additional burden might be in part due to El Nino. We can’t say how much though.”

 

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