The Paris Agreement and Pre-Industrial Levels: What You Need to Know
The Paris Agreement is an international treaty that was signed in 2016 with the goal of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. But what exactly does «pre-industrial levels» mean, and why is it so important?
Simply put, pre-industrial levels refer to the average global temperature before the industrial revolution, which began in the mid-18th century. At that time, humans began burning coal and later other fossil fuels on a large scale, releasing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat, causing the earth`s temperature to rise and leading to a range of negative impacts such as sea level rise, more frequent and severe natural disasters, and threats to food security and biodiversity.
The Paris Agreement recognizes that global warming must be limited to a level that is consistent with the best available science and the goal of sustainable development. To achieve this, the treaty sets out a series of mitigation and adaptation measures that countries must take, including reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, transitioning to clean energy sources, and helping vulnerable communities adapt to climate impacts.
The target of limiting warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels is based on the latest scientific understanding of the risks and impacts of climate change. This target is also seen as necessary to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change and to achieve the broader goal of sustainable development.
It is worth noting that pre-industrial levels are not a fixed temperature, but rather a reference point for measuring how much the earth`s temperature has already risen. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the earth`s temperature has already warmed by about 1 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This may not sound like much, but it is already causing significant impacts around the world, and the impacts will become more severe as temperatures continue to rise.
In conclusion, the Paris Agreement`s target of limiting warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels is a crucial part of global efforts to address climate change. It recognizes that human activity has already caused significant warming, and that urgent action is needed to avoid the worst impacts of a changing climate. As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of climate change, it is essential to keep this target in mind and to work towards achieving it through bold and ambitious action.
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