Will this finally make a difference? A new report has warned about what will happen if we do not act now to protect the planet.
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Briefing: Code red for key climate indicators
Will this finally make a difference? A new report has warned about what will happen if we do not act now to protect the planet.
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What's happening?
In old Greek stories, Cassandra was given a gift and then a curseA wish to cause harm to someone else with supernatural power. by the god ApolloA US space programme which ran from 1961 to 1972 and took 12 astronauts to the moon and the ancient Greek god of the sun, poetry, and archery.. The gift was that she could predictSay what you think is about to happen. the future. The curse was that nobody would ever believe her.
Today, some climate scientists say they feel like Cassandra. For years, they have said we need to act to stop climate changeLong-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change.. But many people have not listened to them.
Now, a group of experts called the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have published a new report.
They say we only have a short time left to make sure the Earth will be a place where humans can live in the future. Soon, we will not be able to turn the clock back on global warmingThe Earth is getting hotter due to climate change..
So far, experts say we are not meeting our goals on climate change.
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But others say we should be hopeful. Reports like this one may push people to act. New technology could help us to catch greenhouse gasesGreenhouse gases, which increase the atmosphere's capacity to hold heat, are vital to life on Earth: without them the planet would be freezing. But human activity is disturbing the delicate balance that created the conditions for life as we know it. Carbon dioxide is responsible for 60% of the manmade greenhouse effect, but we also produce smaller quantities of methane, ozone and nitrous oxide, which are even more damaging. like carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide is a colourless gas formed during the combustion of any material containing carbon and is a significant greenhouse gas. and store them before they cause the world to heat up.
And the cost of clean energy is falling, meaning less people will burn fossil fuelsFuels made from decomposing plants and animals, including coal, natural gas and oil. These fuels release carbon dioxide, causing global warming..
Yes! We have not acted fast enough so far. But this report will push people to act, and we have new ways to help the planet now.
No! There have been other reports in the past saying the same thing. But the important people have not listened to them.
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Will this finally make a difference?
Keywords
Curse - A wish to cause harm to someone else with supernatural power.
Apollo - A US space programme which ran from 1961 to 1972 and took 12 astronauts to the moon and the ancient Greek god of the sun, poetry, and archery.
Predict - Say what you think is about to happen.
Climate change - Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change.
Global warming - The Earth is getting hotter due to climate change.
Greenhouse gases - Greenhouse gases, which increase the atmosphere's capacity to hold heat, are vital to life on Earth: without them the planet would be freezing. But human activity is disturbing the delicate balance that created the conditions for life as we know it. Carbon dioxide is responsible for 60% of the manmade greenhouse effect, but we also produce smaller quantities of methane, ozone and nitrous oxide, which are even more damaging.
Carbon dioxide - Carbon dioxide is a colourless gas formed during the combustion of any material containing carbon and is a significant greenhouse gas.
Fossil fuels - Fuels made from decomposing plants and animals, including coal, natural gas and oil. These fuels release carbon dioxide, causing global warming.
Briefing: Code red for key climate indicators
Cassandra effect? This is the sixth worrying report to be authored by IPCC scientists since 1992. Glossary
Curse - A wish to cause harm to someone else with supernatural power.
Apollo - A US space programme which ran from 1961 to 1972 and took 12 astronauts to the moon and the ancient Greek god of the sun, poetry, and archery.
Predict - Say what you think is about to happen.
Climate change - Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change.
Global warming - The Earth is getting hotter due to climate change.
Greenhouse gases - Greenhouse gases, which increase the atmosphere's capacity to hold heat, are vital to life on Earth: without them the planet would be freezing. But human activity is disturbing the delicate balance that created the conditions for life as we know it. Carbon dioxide is responsible for 60% of the manmade greenhouse effect, but we also produce smaller quantities of methane, ozone and nitrous oxide, which are even more damaging.
Carbon dioxide - Carbon dioxide is a colourless gas formed during the combustion of any material containing carbon and is a significant greenhouse gas.
Fossil fuels - Fuels made from decomposing plants and animals, including coal, natural gas and oil. These fuels release carbon dioxide, causing global warming.