Global Temperature Rising

Climate Change Crisis

Understanding the science, impacts, and urgent solutions needed to address the defining challenge of our time. From greenhouse gas emissions to adaptation strategies.

Global Temperature
+1.1°C

Above pre-industrial levels

CO₂ Levels
421ppm

Highest in 3+ million years

Sea Level Rise
21cm

Since 1880

Extreme Weather
3x

More frequent since 1960

Climate Emergency Status

Current Climate Indicators

Real-time monitoring shows accelerating changes across all major climate systems, pushing Earth toward critical tipping points.

Carbon Budget Remaining ~400 Gt CO₂
Arctic Sea Ice Decline -13% per decade
Ocean Acidification -0.1 pH units

"We are in a climate emergency. Every fraction of a degree matters." - IPCC, 2023

Climate Science Overview

Understanding Climate Change

The science behind global warming, rising temperatures, and critical tipping points that threaten Earth's climate system.

The Greenhouse Effect

Human activities have increased atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, trapping more heat and warming the planet.

CO₂ Concentration 421 ppm

Highest in 3+ million years (pre-industrial: 280 ppm)

Global Temperature Rise +1.1°C

Above pre-industrial average (1850-1900)

Key Greenhouse Gases

  • CO₂ (76%): Fossil fuels, deforestation
  • Methane (16%): Agriculture, landfills
  • Nitrous Oxide (6%): Fertilizers, industry
  • F-gases (2%): Refrigeration, industry

Climate Tipping Points

Critical thresholds where small changes trigger large, often irreversible shifts in Earth's climate system.

Arctic Sea Ice Loss

Summer sea ice declining 13% per decade

Risk: Ice-albedo feedback loop

Amazon Rainforest

20% already lost, approaching dieback threshold

Risk: Carbon sink becomes carbon source

West Antarctic Ice Sheet

Accelerating ice loss, potential collapse

Risk: 3-4m sea level rise

Atlantic Ocean Circulation

AMOC weakening due to freshwater influx

Risk: Disrupted weather patterns

Temperature Thresholds

  • 1.5°C: Coral reef die-offs, Arctic ice loss
  • 2°C: Permafrost thaw, ecosystem collapse
  • 3°C: Amazon dieback, ice sheet instability

Global Temperature Trends (1880-2024)

1880s
Baseline Period
0°C
Reference point
1950s
Post-War Era
+0.1°C
Slight warming
1980s
Acceleration
+0.4°C
Clear trend
2010s
Rapid Rise
+0.9°C
Alarming pace
2024
Current Level
+1.1°C
Record heat

The last decade (2014-2023) included the 10 warmest years on record. 2023 was the hottest year ever measured.

Each of the last 4 decades has been successively warmer than any decade before it since 1850
Climate Impacts

Climate Change Consequences

From extreme weather to rising seas, climate change is already affecting communities, ecosystems, and economies worldwide.

Extreme Weather

Heat waves, droughts, floods, and storms are becoming more frequent and intense.

Heat waves 3-5x more likely
Extreme precipitation +10-20%
Wildfire season extended

Sea Level Rise

Thermal expansion and ice sheet melting drive accelerating sea level rise.

21cm rise since 1880
630M people at risk
Rate doubling every decade

Biodiversity Loss

Species migration, habitat loss, and ecosystem collapse threaten biodiversity.

50% coral reefs bleached
1M species at extinction risk
Arctic ice habitats disappearing

Food Security

Changing precipitation, temperatures, and extreme weather threaten crop yields.

Crop yields declining in heat
Drought affects 55M annually
Pest ranges expanding

Human Health

Heat stress, air quality, and disease vectors pose growing health risks.

Heat-related deaths rising
Disease vectors expanding
Air pollution worsening

Economic Impact

Climate damages cost hundreds of billions annually and growing exponentially.

$150B annual losses (US)
Property values at risk
Jobs and productivity lost

Most Vulnerable Regions

Small Island States

Sea level rise threatens entire nations like Tuvalu, Maldives, and Marshall Islands.

Risk: Uninhabitable by 2100

Sub-Saharan Africa

Drought, desertification, and extreme heat threaten agriculture and water security.

200M at risk of water stress

Arctic Regions

Warming twice as fast as global average, permafrost thaw, ice loss.

Indigenous communities displaced

Coastal Megacities

Mumbai, Bangkok, Miami, and others face flooding and storm surge.

570M people at risk

Climate Migration

Climate change is already displacing communities and will drive massive migration flows this century.

Current Displacement

21.5M
People displaced annually
3.3B
Live in climate hotspots

Future Projections

1.2B
Climate migrants by 2050
216M
Internal migrants by 2050

Primary Drivers

  • • Sea level rise and coastal flooding
  • • Drought and water scarcity
  • • Extreme weather events
  • • Agricultural productivity decline
  • • Ecosystem collapse and resource conflicts

Climate Impacts Across Systems

Climate change affects every aspect of sustainability. Explore the interconnected challenges and solutions.

Climate Solutions & Policies

Pathways to Climate Action

From the Paris Agreement to carbon pricing, explore the policies, technologies, and strategies needed to limit warming to 1.5°C.

Paris Agreement Framework

The 2015 Paris Agreement unites 195 countries in the fight against climate change with nationally determined contributions (NDCs).

Global Temperature Goals

  • • Limit warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial
  • • Pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C
  • • Achieve net-zero emissions by 2050

Key Mechanisms

  • • Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
  • • 5-year review and ratcheting cycle
  • • $100B climate finance commitment
  • • Loss and damage fund for vulnerable countries

Current Status

195
Countries signed
2.4°C
Current trajectory

Carbon Pricing Mechanisms

Putting a price on carbon emissions creates economic incentives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the economy.

Carbon Tax

Direct price on carbon emissions, providing clear price signal

46 jurisdictions implementing

Cap-and-Trade

Emissions allowances traded in market system

EU ETS covers 40% of EU emissions

Internal Carbon Pricing

Companies set internal carbon prices for decision-making

2,000+ companies using

Price Range by Region

EU: $80-90/tCO₂
California: $30-35/tCO₂
UK: $25-30/tCO₂
Canada: $50/tCO₂

Global Net-Zero Commitments

130+
Countries
90% of global emissions
2,000+
Companies
Science-based targets
1,100+
Cities
Urban climate action
70+
Regions
Subnational commitments

Net-zero commitments cover 90% of global GDP and 88% of global emissions, but implementation remains the challenge.

Climate Adaptation & Resilience

While mitigation reduces future climate risks, adaptation helps communities prepare for and respond to climate impacts that are already unavoidable.

Infrastructure Resilience

Building climate-resilient infrastructure to withstand extreme weather and changing conditions.

  • • Flood-resistant buildings
  • • Storm-resilient power grids
  • • Heat-resistant transportation
  • • Water storage systems

Nature-Based Solutions

Using natural ecosystems to protect communities from climate impacts while providing co-benefits.

  • • Coastal wetland restoration
  • • Urban green infrastructure
  • • Forest fire management
  • • Agricultural diversification

Early Warning Systems

Advanced monitoring and prediction systems to help communities prepare for climate extremes.

  • • Weather monitoring networks
  • • Flood prediction systems
  • • Drought early warning
  • • Community alert systems

Climate Action Starts Now

Every fraction of a degree matters. Explore how individuals, businesses, and governments can accelerate climate solutions.