Climatologists around the world have been warning of the unprecedented rate of long-term warming trends for the past several years and 2020’s global temperature analyses are cause for concern.
Let’s break down the numbers.
Data from NOAA and NASA were combined this past week and revealed 2020 tied as the warmest year on record globally. Unveiling that 2020 was 2.25°F above the 1881 to 1910 baseline average.
This leaves the top 10 warmest years globally to all have occurred since 2000. What’s even more alarming, is that despite scientist's recent warnings of a rapidly changing climate - the top six warmest years have all occurred since 2015.
This is unsettling because a stable climate is characterized by a balance between warm years and cold years. But the nearly 100-year trend of warming, with a clear rapid rate of increase in just the last 20 years, adds to the overwhelming evidence that human CO2 emissions are behind this uncalled for change in the climate.
While emissions did drop for a short period of time during the shutdowns in the Spring - things like factories, driving cars and flying quickly resumed. And in no way did the brief shut down completely reverse climate change. That's why Ed Hawkins's famous warming stripes had to add yet another dark red stripe. A pattern that will continue unless we reduce our global carbon emissions permanently.
Of course, it's not too late! By living a greener and more sustainable life we can work to bend this curve and help the change of the climate occur at its natural rate.
Here are a few ways that you can live more eco-friendly in 2021:
- Recycle
- Decrease single-use plastic items
- Minimize energy consumption
- Reduce unnecessary water usage
- Resell or donate items and clothing
- Use more environmentally friendly modes of transportation
- Limit purchasing "fast fashion" items
- Shop local to reduce your carbon footprint
- Grow your own produce
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