In the long history of the earth, human beings have bloomed like bright stars, shining with unique light. Today, however, we are facing an unprecedented existential crisis – global warming.
On June 5, local time, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a deafening speech on World Environment Day at the Natural History Museum of United States. He lamented that the Earth was sending a dangerous signal to humanity, but we chose to ignore it. Nearly a decade after the adoption of the Paris Agreement, the goal of limiting long-term global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is in jeopardy. Global greenhouse gas emissions need to fall by 9% per year between now and 2030, a figure that weighs on the shoulders of all humanity. But the reality is worrying: emissions are moving in the wrong direction, and the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold could be crossed at any time.
More than 50 world-renowned scientists have also issued stark warnings that global warming is accelerating at an “unprecedented” rate. The second annual Global Climate Change Indicators Report, led by the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, is a clear reflection of the dilemma we face. Over the past decade (2014-2023), global surface temperatures caused by human activities have been 1.19°C above pre-industrial levels, and in just one year, human activities have warmed the planet by 1.3°C in 2023. The rising numbers are like a cry of despair from the earth. The analysis also shows that the remaining carbon budget is only around 200 billion tonnes, roughly equivalent to total emissions over five years at current levels. This number is like a wake-up call that reminds us of the urgency of time.
If the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold were to be crossed, it would trigger a chain reaction that would be devastating to human existence. Glaciers are melting at an accelerated rate, sea levels are rising, and coastal cities and island nations are facing the fate of being submerged; Extreme weather is frequent, and disasters such as floods, droughts, and hurricanes will ravage the world, destroying people’s homes and livelihoods. Ecosystems have been devastated, species extinctions are accelerating, and biodiversity is under serious threat.
In the face of this crisis, we can no longer sit idly by. Every country, every enterprise, and every individual should take action and shoulder their responsibilities. The government should formulate stricter environmental protection policies and increase investment and promotion of renewable energy; Enterprises should actively transform and upgrade, and adopt green and environmentally friendly production technologies and processes; And every ordinary person can also start from the small things around us, such as reducing energy consumption, choosing green travel, garbage classification, etc. Global warming is a battle for the survival of humanity, and there is no way back. Let’s work together to keep global warming within safe limits for the sake of our planet and for our future, so that our children and grandchildren can continue to thrive on this beautiful blue planet.
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