More severe hurricanes are predicted to hit the US soon. Meanwhile, in China 2.3 million face the worst drought ever. Forests continue to disappear. Estimates from the International Energy Agency (IEA), this week have showed a record rise in carbon emissions from energy last year. No wonder the UN's climate chief has come out saying the world should agree to limit global warming to just 1.5C instead of the current target of 2C.
Last December at a UN climate conference in Cancun, Mexico, all countries reached a consensus on a 2C target, the first time the world's governments had set a target limit on climate change. A campaign for a 1.5C target by some developing countries was one of the factors that nearly wrecked the Copenhagen summit.
The UN chief says reaching 2C of warming would have a devastating impact, such as sea-level rises that could overwhelm low-lying islands and some coastal nations, and levels of warming in sub-Saharan Africa that could severely damage agriculture.
Current emissions pledges from both developed and developing countries represent only 60% of what is needed to stay below 2C. If the current pattern were to continue, the world would be on course for at least 3C to 4C of warming. Care to think of what disasters will follow?
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