Thus far, 2023 has proven to be a pivotal moment in the battle against climate change, and a stark reminder of the urgency to address our planet’s ecological crisis. From the awakening brought by natural disasters to global commitments to advances in climate science, we are hurtling towards a future where sustainability and environmental stewardship are paramount. Let us consider a few of the key milestones we’ve hit – and some projections for what’s in store.
Significant milestones measured by climate scientists
- The National Snow and Ice Data Center reported that Antarctic sea ice extent was at its lowest in 45 years.
- Bloomberg NEF’s “Energy Transition Investment Trends” report estimated that energy transition investment would match global fossil fuel investment in 2022, including China with $546 billion, the US with $141 billion, and the EU with $180 billion.
- An international study published in Science reported that more than 50% of freshwater lakes and reservoirs lost volume from 1992 to 2020, and proposed a framework for safeguarding the global commons.
- The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that global surface air temperatures had risen to 1.5 °C (2.7 °F) above pre-industrial levels for the first time, and that the heat index in coastal Iran reached 70 °C (158 °C).
- A study published in Nature Communications estimated the global costs of extreme weather attributable to climate change in the last twenty years to be US$143 billion per year, 63% of which is due to human loss of life.
Projections for the near future
- A study published in Earth’s Future concluded that the greatest increase in coastal area below mean sea level will occur in the early stages of sea level rise.
- Climate scientists projected in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that global warming would exceed 1.5°C by 2044, with a nearly 70% chance of 2°C between 2044 and 2065, even if emissions rapidly decline.
- The highest-granularity study on food GHGs (greenhouse gases), in Nature Climate Change, reported that global food consumption failed climate goals with constant patterns, and that the chance of global near-surface temperature exceeding 1.5 °C above preindustrial levels for at least one year between 2023 and 2027 is 66%.
This new era of climate activism has people around the world coming together to demand bold action to address the climate crisis. Through grassroots campaigns, public protests, and international cooperation, the year 2023 set the stage for a future of global climate solutions. Will we rise to the occasion in 2024?
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