A study by the German Institute for Climate Impact Research in Potsdam (PIK) warns that the Earth could warm up to 7 ° C by 2200. This would have devastating impacts on global ecosystems and human civilization. “We have found that maximum warming can be much higher than it was previously expected, even with low to medium emissions,” says the chief author of the study by Dr. Christine Kaufold.
According to German experts, such a rise in temperature would lead to a permanent disadvantage that would cause Worldwide lack of food and starvation. At the same time, rising sea levels would force millions of people to leave the coastal areas due to floods. Extreme weather manifestations, such as dry, heat waves, fires, tropical storms and floods, would be much more common and more devastating. In summer, temperatures would achieve fatally high values, which would endanger the health of people of all ages.
“Our research clearly shows that the current steps will decide on the future of life on this planet for hundreds of years ahead,” Johan said Rockström, director of PIK and co -author of the study. Climate change also triggers so -called. Carbon -based feedback loops. For example, the melting of permafrost releases additional co₂, which accelerates warming. Another example is an increase in flammable vegetation, which releases additional greenhouse gases in fires.
The 2015 Paris climate agreement set the goal of keeping global warming below 2 ° C, ideally below 1.5 ° C. However, the study warns that this window is quickly closing. “The reduction of carbon emissions must be done even faster than it has been assumed to be able to fulfill the goal of the Paris Agreement,” protects Doctor Matteo Willeit.
At the same time, scientists warn that even an immediate reduction in emissions may not prevent some long -term impact, as the already released greenhouse gases will affect the climate for centuries. The study was published in the Environmental Research Letters.
