Global Warming

Over the past decade (2015-2025), significant developments have occurred in the realms of global warming and carbon footprint reduction:

Rising Global Temperatures and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

• The past ten years have been the warmest on record, with 2024 being the hottest year ever documented. The global average temperature in 2024 was 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels, surpassing the 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Agreement.
• Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations have reached unprecedented levels, with 2023 marking a new high. This escalation has intensified the greenhouse effect, leading to accelerated glacier melt, sea ice loss, and a rise in sea levels.

Impacts on Polar Regions

• The Arctic has experienced warming nearly four times faster than the global average since 1979, a phenomenon known as polar amplification. This rapid warming has led to significant ice loss, contributing to global sea-level rise.

Sea-Level Rise

• Between 2015 and 2024, the average annual sea-level rise accelerated to 4.7 millimeters, more than double the rate observed from 1993 to 2002. This increase is attributed to melting glaciers and thermal expansion of warming oceans.

Extreme Weather Events

• The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods, and wildfires, have escalated over the past decade. In 2024 alone, these events displaced approximately 800,000 people worldwide.

Carbon Footprint Reduction Initiatives

• The building sector, responsible for 34% of global CO₂ emissions, has seen a 5% increase in emissions over the last decade, contrary to the targeted 28% reduction. The United Nations has called for rapid cuts in building sector emissions to meet climate goals, emphasizing the need for energy efficiency retrofits and the adoption of renewable energy sources.
• The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has proposed new guidelines allowing companies to use carbon removals to offset residual emissions, aiming to enhance corporate strategies toward achieving net-zero goals.

Policy and International Cooperation

• In response to climate-hostile policies from certain nations, countries like the UK are seeking to collaborate with major emitters such as China to bolster climate action and counteract setbacks in global climate initiatives.
• Significant industrial transitions are underway, exemplified by Scotland's plan to transform the Grangemouth oil refinery into a hub for green chemicals and sustainable fuels, aiming to create up to 1,200 jobs and attract low-carbon businesses.

These developments underscore the urgency of addressing climate change through concerted global efforts in emission reductions, policy reforms, and sustainable practices.

--To be continued---