The WMO warns that the last decade has been the warmest on record

The acceleration of climate change is driven by human actions, highlights a new report from the World Meteorological Organization, WMO

The last decade has proven to be the warmest on record, continuing an alarming thirty-year trend driven “by greenhouse gas emissions resulting from human activities”.

This was stated by the secretary general of the World Meteorological Organization, WMO, Petteri Taalas, presenting a new report from the United Nations agency during COP28 in Dubai.

The UN warns that the last decade has been the warmest on record (Photo: Getty Images)

Emissions and fossil fuels

Characterized by record temperatures on land and in the ocean, the decade between 2011 and 2020 saw a steady increase in greenhouse gas concentrations, which accelerated dramatic glacier loss and sea level rise.

During the event, countries agreed on a new voluntary fund to compensate vulnerable nations for losses and damage due to climate change.

However, difficult negotiations will take place in the coming days on targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and eliminate the use of fossil fuels.

Transformation

The State of the Climate report reveals that more countries registered between 2011 and 2020 record temperatures than any other decade. He also warns of “particularly profound transformations” occurring in polar regions and high-altitude areas.

The WMO also warns that climate impacts are undermining sustainable development, with serious repercussions on global food security, displacement and migration.

Continuous heating

According to the WMO Secretary General, since the 1990s every decade has been warmer than the previous one and there are no signs of a reversal of the trend.

Petteri Taalas underlines this it is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as an absolute and primary priority for the planetin order to prevent climate change from getting out of control.

The report paints a worrying scenario, but also highlights positive progress, such as Successful international efforts to eliminate ozone-depleting chemicals under the Montreal Protocol, resulting in a smaller Antarctic ozone hole over the period 2011 to 2020.

Furthermore, advances in forecasting, early warning systems and coordinated disaster management have reduced fatalities from extreme events, although economic losses have increased, the WMO researchers noted.

However, the report highlights the need for more substantial measures. In fact, while the public and private climate finance nearly doubled from 2011 to 2020, a seven-fold increase is needed by the end of this decade to meet climate goals.

Refrigeration systems contribute enormously to climate change.

Air conditioning

As temperatures rise, which generates a increased demand for air conditioners and other cooling equipmentanother report published during the COP28 climate negotiations points to a path to reduce emissions in the cooling sector.

More than 60 countries have joined the call “compromise on cooling” reduce climate impact, which could also provide “universal access to life-saving cooling, ease pressure on energy networks, and save trillions of dollars by 2050.”

This is estimated by the United Nations Environmental Programme, UNEP Over 1 billion people are at high risk of extreme heat due to lack of access to cooling – the vast majority live in Africa and Asia.

Deadly heat waves

Furthermore, Nearly a third of the world’s population is exposed to deadly heatwaves more than 20 days a yearO. Cooling brings relief to people and is essential for several critical areas and services, such as global food security and vaccine delivery through refrigeration.

But at the same time, conventional cooling, such as air conditioningis a major driver of climate change, responsible for more than 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions. If not managed properly, energy needs for space cooling will triple by 2050, along with associated emissions.

If current growth trends continue, cooling equipment will account for 20% of total electricity consumption and could more than double by 2050.

Staying cool during a heat wave is especially important for children who have more difficulty regulating their body temperature than adults.

Energy guzzlers

You Current cooling systems, such as air conditioners and refrigerators, consume enormous amounts of energy. The UNEP report shows that measures to reduce equipment energy consumption could lead to at least a 60% reduction in projected sectoral emissions by 2050.

UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said the cooling sector must grow to protect everyone from rising temperatures, maintain food quality and safety, keep vaccines and productive economies stable.

However, he stressed that this growth should not come “at the expense of the energy transition and more intense climate impacts”

Global Cooling Commitment

The report was published in support of the Global Cooling Commitment, a joint initiative between the UAE as host of COP28 and the UNEP-led “Cool Coalition”.

Outline the actions to be taken passive cooling strategiessuch as insulation, natural shading, ventilation and reflective surfaces, higher standards of energy efficiency and a rapid reduction of climate-warming hydrofluorocarbons.

Following the report’s recommendations could reduce projected emissions for 2050 by approximately 3.8 billion tons of CO2 equivalent.

Source: ONO News

Source: Terra

Rose

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