Climate Change: What's Really Happening Right Now?

Accelerating Warming

Climate change is not just getting warmer; it's getting warmer faster.

• Record-breaking temperatures have been observed in recent years.
• A major study in June revealed that the average global temperature is now rising by 0.27°C every ten years.
• This is almost 50% faster than in the 1990s and 2000s.

Rising Sea Levels

• Over the last decade, sea levels have been rising by 4.5 millimeters per year.
• This is more than double the rate from the 1900s.
• If current trends continue, the world will likely cross the 1.5°C warming threshold around 2030.
• Scientists warn of big, irreversible changes.

Environmental Tipping Points

Corals and Rainforests

• Warm-water corals are dying off due to repeated heatwaves.
• This could be the first "tipping point," where an ecosystem transforms.
• The Amazon rainforest might turn into savannah if deforestation continues and warming crosses 1.5°C.

Melting Ice and Ocean Currents

• Greenland's melting ice could cause the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) to collapse earlier than expected.
• The AMOC helps keep winters mild in Europe.
• In Antarctica, melting ice is exposing dark water, which absorbs more heat and speeds up warming.
• It's also affecting phytoplankton growth, which absorb CO2 from the atmosphere.

Wildfires and Health Risks

Wildfires

• Between March 2024 and February 2025, about 3.7 million square kilometers burned.
• This is roughly the size of India and Norway combined.
• These fires are releasing more CO2 as they burn through dense forests.

Heat-Related Health Issues

• Half the world's population is already struggling with heat-related issues.
• Worker productivity drops by 2-3% for every degree above 20°C.
• Last year, global losses from lost productivity were over $1 trillion.

Scientific Efforts and Challenges

Understanding Risks

• Scientists are working to better understand and measure these risks.
• In Europe, one team estimated that over 24,400 deaths this summer were related to heat exposure.
• Up to 70% of those deaths could be linked to climate change.

Climate Science Under Attack

• In the U.S., the Trump administration is trying to cut funding for agencies that collect and monitor climate and weather data.
• This has scientists worried, as U.S. leadership in this area is hard to replace.
• However, other countries like China, the UK, Japan, and the European Union are increasing their public science spending.