The Global Climate Emergency By The Numbers

These 6 numbers define the climate challenge in a changing U.S.; Joe Biden takes office during an increasingly obvious and destructive climate crisis. To rein it in, he’ll have to keep these 6 numbers in mind.

Alejandra Borunda, January 19, 2021 (National Geogrpahic)

“…2020 tied with 2016 for the hottest year on record, a clear sign of a planet in distress…[These six numbers] define the challenge……[1.25°C or 2.25°F is] how much higher Earth’s average temperature was in 2020 compared to the late 1800s…[At the current 0.2ºC per decade rate of warming, Earth would exceed the Paris Agreement 2°C or 3.6°F goal within] a few decades exceed…[945 gigatons of] carbon dioxide remains in the “carbon budget” that would give Earth a 66 percent chance of warming less than 2ºC above pre-industrial temperatures…[In 2020, the world added about] 40 gigatons (billion tons) of CO2…[That rate would use the] remaining budget in less than 25 years……[In 2020, there were 22 U.S. billion dollar weather-and-climate disasters] in the U.S. in 2020…and that number is only going to increase until climate change is controlled…

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…[By 2035, Arctic sea ice may vanish in the summer] for the first time in 2 million years or so—a potential “tipping point” in the region that could reshape the entire planet…[Others] hover uncomfortably close…[28% of the world’s electricity comes from New Energy and] renewables will soon outstrip coal and natural gas…[And may be] the largest source of energy globally by 2025…[But to] meet net-zero emissions targets, renewable electricity will have to almost completely supplant coal and gas [and gasoline] by mid-century…[51%] of Americans under 45 say climate change has influenced their decision about where to live..[That’s a big deal and can] propel climate action…” click here for more

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