Climate change is about the long-term shift in global temperatures and weather patterns. Additionally, climate can be influenced by solar activity or volcanic activity, which are classified as natural causes. However, since the 1800s, human activities have been the primary driver of climate change, particularly the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas.
The release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere as a consequence of the combustion of fossil fuels results in the trapping of additional solar heat, thereby increasing the average surface temperature. In a warming world, a range of changes, from melting glaciers to extreme weather events, pose a threat to the continued existence of living things. The current levels of carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere (427 ppm as of July 2024), the increase in the average surface temperature by 1.4 degrees compared to the pre-industrial period and the thinning of the glaciers in the Arctic Ocean by 12.2 per cent since 1979 are the key indicators of global climate change and are subject to continuous monitoring by scientists.
To highlight the severity of the climate change and the necessity for immediate action, many organisations, including NGOs and the media, have adopted the term ‘climate crisis’ in recent years, emphasising the economic and social dimensions of this issue. Furthermore, Ekosfer prefers to use this term as it more accurately reflects the urgency and unnatural nature of the problem.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has indicated that failure to halt the increase in temperature could result in a rise of 4°C by the end of this century. The Paris Agreement, on the other hand, has the objective of limiting the temperature increase to below 1.5°C, or 2°C if this is not feasible.
The increase in air temperature is one of the first impacts that comes to mind when we think of climate crisis. An increase in the average surface temperature of 1.4 degrees compared to pre-industrialisation may lead to an increase in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as heat waves. This can lead to many problems ranging from agricultural production to drought, from human deaths due to extreme temperatures to the change in the habitats of many living things. In 2003, it is known that more than 70 thousand people in Europe lost their lives due to heat waves. It is also stated in scientific reports that the climate crisis affects the poor, the elderly and those living in places where infrastructure is lacking worse. Its economic impacts are closely related to almost every sector, but we can say that sectors such as energy, housing, agriculture, insurance and tourism come to the fore in terms of stopping and adapting to the climate crisis.
It is also observed that the number and severity of droughts, forest fires and floods have increased with the climate crisis. If the temperature increase reaches 1.5 °C, the amount of fresh water in lakes and rivers in the Mediterranean region will decrease
by 9 per cent. An increase of 2 °C would lead to a 20 per cent decrease in summer precipitation in Central and Southern Europe. The possibility of total collapse of ecosystems at higher temperature increases is also mentioned. We can show the importance of temperature increase by highlighting a few data from IPC’s report titled “Global Warming 1.5 °C“.
The effects of the climate crisis are evident in numerous sectors. These can be classified as natural, social, economic and regional impacts.
The increase in air temperature is one of the first impacts that comes to mind when we think of climate crisis. An increase in the average surface temperature of 1.4 degrees compared to pre-industrialisation may result in an increase in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, such as heat waves. This can result in a range of issues, from challenges in agricultural production to increased risk of drought, and from human fatalities due to extreme temperatures to shifts in the habitats of numerous species. In 2003, it was established that over 70,000 people in Europe lost their lives as a result of heat waves. Furthermore, scientific reports indicate that the climate crisis has a disproportionate impact on disadvantaged groups, including the poor, the elderly and those residing in areas with inadequate infrastructure. The economic impact of the climate crisis is felt across almost every sector. However, there are a few key areas that are particularly affected, including energy, housing, agriculture, insurance and tourism.
Furthermore, there has been an increase in the number and severity of droughts, forest fires and floods as a result of the climate crisis. A temperature increase of 1.5 °C will result in a 9 percent reduction in the volume of fresh water in lakes and rivers in the Mediterranean region. A two-degree Celsius increase would result in a 20 percent reduction in summer precipitation across Central and Southern Europe. Furthermore, there is a risk of total ecosystem collapse at higher temperatures. We can demonstrate the significance of temperature increase by presenting a few data points from IPC’s report, “Global Warming 1.5 °C.”
Difference of Half a Degree in Temperature Increase
| 1,5 °C | 2 °C | |
| Plants | 8 per cent will lose half of their habitats | 16 per cent will lose half of their habitats |
| Insects | 6 per cent will lose half of their habitats | 18 per cent will lose half of their habitats |
| Coral reefs | 70 to 90 per cent will disappear | 99 per cent will disappear |
| Extreme heat | 14 per cent of the world’s population will be exposed to a severe heat wave every 5 years. | 37 per cent of the world’s population will be exposed to a severe heat wave every 5 years. |
| Fisheries | Decline of 1.5 million tonnes in marine fisheries | Decline of 3 million tonnes in marine fisheries |
| Sea level rise by 2100 | 0.4 metres | 0.46 metres |
Source: https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/infographic-the-difference-between-1-5-and-2-degrees-warming/ +
https://wri.org.cn/en/data/climate-impacts-between-1.5c-2c-warming
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