Humans have caused major climate changes to happen already, and we have set in motion more changes still. However, if we stopped emitting greenhouse gases today, the rise in global temperatures would begin to flatten within a few years. Temperatures would then plateau but remain well-elevated for many, many centuries. There is a time lag between what we do and when we feel it, but that lag is less than a decade.
While the effects of human activities on Earth's climate to date are irreversible on the timescale of humans alive today, every little bit of avoided future temperature increases results in less warming that would otherwise persist for essentially forever. The benefits of reduced greenhouse gas emissions occur on the same timescale as the political decisions that lead to those reductions.
Without major action to reduce emissions, global temperature is on track to rise by 2.5 °C to 4.5 °C (4.5 °F to 8 °F) by 2100, according to the latest estimates.
But it may not be too late to avoid or limit some of the worst effects of climate change. Responding to climate change will involve a two-tier approach:
- “Mitigation” – reducing the flow of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere
- “Adaptation” – learning to live with, and adapt to, the climate change that has already been set in motion. The key question is, what will our emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants be in the years to come?
Read more about NASA's efforts to address climate change at https://climate.nasa.gov/solutions/resources/.
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The article you shared touches upon crucial aspects of climate change and its impact on our planet. As someone deeply immersed in climate science, I can attest to the evidence supporting these claims.
Firstly, the assertion that human activities have significantly altered the Earth's climate aligns with an overwhelming consensus among climate scientists. The primary driver behind these changes is the emission of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) due to human industrial activities, deforestation, and various other factors.
The article also mentions the concept of a temperature lag—a delay between our actions and their effects on the climate. This lag indeed exists, but the consequences of our emissions are imminent and have already begun to manifest. Even if we were to cease emitting greenhouse gases abruptly, the temperature rise wouldn't immediately halt; it would plateau at elevated levels for centuries due to the accumulated gases in the atmosphere.
Mitigation and adaptation strategies, as highlighted, are key approaches in combating climate change. Mitigation involves reducing the emission of greenhouse gases, while adaptation involves adjusting to the changes already set in motion. These approaches are critical to curbing the projected temperature increases and minimizing the adverse effects of climate change.
The future trajectory of global temperatures, as per the latest estimates, suggests a potential rise of 2.5 to 4.5 degrees Celsius (4.5 to 8 degrees Fahrenheit) by the end of the century if significant action isn't taken to curb emissions. However, there remains hope that diligent efforts in mitigation and adaptation can avert or limit some of the most severe impacts of climate change.
NASA's involvement in addressing climate change is pivotal. Their resources and initiatives contribute immensely to understanding and monitoring the Earth's climate system, aiding in informed decision-making and fostering solutions to combat this global challenge.
To summarize, human-induced climate change is a pressing issue with far-reaching consequences. Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the changes already underway are imperative actions to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change and safeguard the planet for future generations.
