Latest Developments in Global Climate Change
Latest Developments in Global Climate Change
Eliza Chan Man-yee
All four important indicators of global climate change – concentrations of greenhouse gases, mean sea level, ocean heat content and ocean acidification – set new records in 2021. The global average surface temperature in 2021 was also about 1.1°C higher than the pre-industrial level. Other indicators for monitoring global climate change include global average surface temperature, glacier quality and sea ice extent. These indicators reflect changes in the atmospheric composition and energy of the Earth, as well as the related effects on land, oceans, ice and snow. In addition, extreme high temperatures and fierce wildfires have been occurring all over the world this year, drawing global attention to the dire situation with climate change, as extreme weather events (such as high temperatures and extreme rainfall) becoming more frequent in a warming climate. We must take immediate action to conserve energy and reduce emissions, to slow down global warming!
Global monthly mean carbon dioxide (image credit: NOAA)
Global mean sea level change (image credit: NOAA Climate.gov)
