Could science fix global warming? A fire is spreading through the streets of Los Angeles, California. Some fear without action, it could be a vision of the future.
2030 forecast: fire, famine and flood
Could science fix global warming? A fire is spreading through the streets of Los Angeles, California. Some fear without action, it could be a vision of the future.
Imagine leaving your home to find the street on fire.
This was the reality for many people in areas of Los AngelesA city in California, USA. It is known for one of its districts - Hollywood, home of the US film industry., a big city in CaliforniaA large state on the west coast of the USA. It is the country's most populous state, with more than 37 million people. First settled by Native Americans as much as 13,000 years ago, the area was subsequently conquered by Spain, then was absorbed into Mexico, which was forced to hand it over to the USA in 1848., on Wednesday morning. As many as 30,000 people had to leave their homes.
Events like this will become more common if we do not act now on climate changeLong-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change., expertsSomeone who knows a lot about a particular subject. say.
Here are five more predictionsGuesses about the future, often based on some evidence. for 2030:
1. Unique heat. By the early 2030s, 92% of countries will probably face "extreme heat" every two years, making it hard to grow food.
2. Deadly forecast. Between 2030 and 2050, climate change could cause an extra 250,000 deaths a year due to issues such as heat stress.
3. Renewable boom. The world is on course to power half the planet's electricity demands with renewable energyEnergy sources, such as wind and solar power, that do not use up fossil fuels and pollute the environment. by 2030.
4. Lost forest. BrazilThe largest country in South America, home to 217 million people. 's president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has promised to protect the AmazonA large river and jungle in South America. Also the name of a US-based company that started off selling books online. It now sells almost any product and is expanding into futuristic computer technology. rainforest by 2030 and stop it from being cut down.
5. Great solar wall. In a desertDry land where there is very little rain and few plants. in northwest ChinaA country in East Asia, home to 1.4 billion people., plans are underway to build a new great wall of China made out of solar panelsPanels which capture energy from the sun and turn it into electricity. . It could power whole cities.
Could science fix global warming?
Yes! New technology is allowing us to use renewable energy to power the world. By 2030 we could massively lower our greenhouse gasGases in the Earth's atmosphere that trap heat, contributing to global warming. Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and water vapour are all greenhouse gases. emissions, which will help to fix global warmingThe Earth is getting hotter due to climate change..
No! The planet is still on course to keep warming up. This will do terrible damage to our planet, which cannot be undone. Scientists alone cannot fix global warming. Everyone has to act.
Keywords
Los Angeles - A city in California, USA. It is known for one of its districts - Hollywood, home of the US film industry.
California - A large state on the west coast of the USA. It is the country's most populous state, with more than 37 million people. First settled by Native Americans as much as 13,000 years ago, the area was subsequently conquered by Spain, then was absorbed into Mexico, which was forced to hand it over to the USA in 1848.
Climate change - Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change.
Experts - Someone who knows a lot about a particular subject.
Predictions - Guesses about the future, often based on some evidence.
Renewable energy - Energy sources, such as wind and solar power, that do not use up fossil fuels and pollute the environment.
Brazil - The largest country in South America, home to 217 million people.
Amazon - A large river and jungle in South America. Also the name of a US-based company that started off selling books online. It now sells almost any product and is expanding into futuristic computer technology.
Desert - Dry land where there is very little rain and few plants.
China - A country in East Asia, home to 1.4 billion people.
Solar panels - Panels which capture energy from the sun and turn it into electricity.
Greenhouse gas - Gases in the Earth's atmosphere that trap heat, contributing to global warming. Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and water vapour are all greenhouse gases.
Global warming - The Earth is getting hotter due to climate change.
2030 forecast: fire, famine and flood
Glossary
Los Angeles - A city in California, USA. It is known for one of its districts - Hollywood, home of the US film industry.
California - A large state on the west coast of the USA. It is the country's most populous state, with more than 37 million people. First settled by Native Americans as much as 13,000 years ago, the area was subsequently conquered by Spain, then was absorbed into Mexico, which was forced to hand it over to the USA in 1848.
Climate change - Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change.
Experts - Someone who knows a lot about a particular subject.
Predictions - Guesses about the future, often based on some evidence.
Renewable energy - Energy sources, such as wind and solar power, that do not use up fossil fuels and pollute the environment.
Brazil - The largest country in South America, home to 217 million people.
Amazon - A large river and jungle in South America. Also the name of a US-based company that started off selling books online. It now sells almost any product and is expanding into futuristic computer technology.
Desert - Dry land where there is very little rain and few plants.
China - A country in East Asia, home to 1.4 billion people.
Solar panels - Panels which capture energy from the sun and turn it into electricity.
Greenhouse gas - Gases in the Earth's atmosphere that trap heat, contributing to global warming. Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and water vapour are all greenhouse gases.
Global warming - The Earth is getting hotter due to climate change.