Published 19:52 IST, September 26th 2019
'We're all in big trouble': Climate panel sees a dire future
An expert United Nations climate panel cautioned in a new report that earth is in more danger at the moment than it was ever and so are the living beings.
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An expert United Nations climate panel cautioned in a new report on September 25, that the earth is in more danger at the moment than it was ever and so are the living beings. A report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate changed that was provided while the world leaders met at the UN said that the water level at the sea is rising at a great speed due to the meltdown of ice and snow and the ocean water is getting much more acidic and the oxygen level is dropping. The panel gave a warning that if adequate steps aren't taken on time to reduce emissions and delay global warming then the sea level will rise around 3 feet by the end of the 21st century. This will result in lesser fishes, little snow and ice, stronger hurricanes and totally unpleasant weather systems.
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The major findings by the report:
1. The sea level is rising at 1/7th of an inch every year. It is about two and a half times quicker than the rate from 1900-1990.
2. All the oceans of the world saw the oxygen level go down by 1% to 3% at the top level since the year 1970. They might continue to lose even more if global warming is not reduced to a great extent.
3. The ice from areas like Greenland, Antarctica and other mountain glaciers in the world have been melting at a great speed. The amount of ice these places are losing every year is 720 billion tons.
4. The snow cover at the Artic in June has contracted by 50% since the year 1967. It has gone down about a million square miles.
5. The marine life may probably become less by 15%. The fishes that are available for fishing will reduce to a great extent by the end of the 21st century, from 21% to 24% due to the major change in the climatic conditions of the world.
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"We’re all in big trouble"
A lead author of the report Michael Oppenheimer who is the professor of geosciences and international affairs at Princeton University while giving details on the serious issue said, “The oceans and the icy parts of the world are in big trouble, and that means we’re all in big trouble, too,”. He also said that the changes are accelerating. The terrible effects of climatic change will be felt on land as well as the sea. This is going to harm people, plants, animals, food infrastructure and the world economy. According to the international team of scientists, there are some island nations that won't remain worth living. The snow and ice belt of the earth is melting due to global warming. The oceans soak over 90% of the surplus heat that is generated from the carbon pollution in the atmosphere and carbon dioxide.
“The world’s oceans and cryosphere have been taking the heat for climate change for decades. The consequences for nature and humanity are sweeping and severe,” said Ko Barrett, vice-chair of the IPCC and a deputy assistant administrator for research at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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Control in emission may help in saving the earth
The authors of the report said that many of the deadly cases that are projected in their report can be avoided if the world controls its emission of gases responsible for global warming. The IPCC said that sea level will go up by 2 to 3 times in the coming centuries if global warming continues. The co-author of the report, Hans-Otto Portner said that the world right now is seeing a future for itself that is totally in contrast from the one which it has currently. The report said that the world's warm-water coral reefs will no longer exist in some parts and it is one of the biggest signs that the world can get of the deadly situation.
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“We indicate we have a choice. Whether we go into a grim future depends on the decisions that are being made,” Portner said.
(With inputs from AP)
13:24 IST, September 26th 2019