Did the world wake up to climate change in 2018? Or are we falling deeper into ignorance about the environmental changes happening all around us?
The increasingly severe effects of the rise in global temperature are being felt everywhere on the planet through extreme weather events and natural disasters, serving as a wake-up call to the impacts of climate change… for those who are willing to listen. Scientific studies have demonstrated that we are poised on the cusp of worldwide disaster, and the global community is becoming increasingly aware of the impending crisis. Many are demanding action; the world’s nations and innovators are exploring new technologies for sustainable energy production to prevent a global catastrophe.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a body dedicated to providing an objective view on climate change, 2018 is a tipping point for the global environment. In 2018, we needed a pivotal year for climate action.
Here are 6 significant climate change themes that emerged during the year.
1. The Environment: Extreme Weather Events
Weather events and environmental disasters are determined by a variety of complex factors, both natural and man-made. It is impossible to attribute any single weather phenomenon directly to climate change. Science makes it possible to ascertain how much climate change influences weather events, however. Scientific analysis reveals that the rise in global temperature is more than a minor component of natural disasters and extreme weather events. In many cases, it serves as an essential factor.
Nearly every region on the planet experienced extreme weather and natural disasters in 2018.
Read more: Forbes