The 10 Hottest Years Have Occurred Since 2014
CO₂ levels are rising
CO₂ levels are rising
From 1950-2020 atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration levels (CO₂) climbed nearly 100 ppm and the rate of global warming averaged 0.14°C per decade (compared to 20ppm and 0.04°C for the 70 year period 1880-1950).
Fossil fuels are the main cause
Fossil fuels are the main cause
Annual emissions from burning fossil fuels have increased every decade from close to 11 billion tons of CO₂ per year in the 1960s to an estimated 36.6 billion tons in 2022.
A stark comparison
A stark comparison
As a comparison, the total global seaborne trade of all goods – containers, bulk and liquid cargo – in 2022 was 11.1 billion tons. CO₂ emissions in 2022 were more than 3 times the total global seaborne cargo.
Supercharging the greenhouse effect
Supercharging the greenhouse effect
CO₂ is a long-lived greenhouse gas that absorbs and radiates heat. By adding more CO₂ to the atmosphere we are supercharging the natural greenhouse effect causing global temperature to rise, the world's oceans to heat and acidify and sea levels to rise.
Where we're heading
Where we're heading
If global energy demand continues to grow rapidly, and we meet it mostly with fossil fuels, human-related emissions of CO₂ could reach 75 billion tons per year by 2100. Atmospheric CO₂ could be 800 ppm or higher – conditions not seen on Earth for close to 50 million years.
What we need to do
What we need to do
There is an urgent need to bend the curve and cut CO₂ emissions. We can do this by reducing fossil fuel energy consumption such as coal, oil and gas and replacing it with renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro and bioenergy.
There is no going back - no matter what we do now, it's too late to avoid climate change. If we bring emissions down with sufficient vigour we may yet avoid the tipping points that will make runaway climate change unstoppable.
