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Conceptual map on climate change and the global goal to combat it.

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Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet

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The rate of change since the mid-20th century is unprecedented over millennia.

Earth's climate has changed throughout history. Just in the last 800,000 years, there have been eight cycles of ice ages and warmer periods, with the end of the last ice age about 11,700 years ago marking the beginning of the modern climate era - and of human civilization. Most of these climate changes are attributed to very small variations in Earth's orbit that change the amount of solar energy our planet receives.

This graph, based on the comparison of atmospheric samples contained in ice cores and more recent direct measurements, provides evidence that atmospheric CO2 has increased since the Industrial Revolution. (Credit: Luthi, D., et al.. 2008; Etheridge, D.M., et al. 2010; Vostok ice core data/J.R. Petit et al.; NOAA Mauna Loa CO2 record.) Find out more about ice cores (external site).

The current warming trend is different because it is clearly the result of human activities since the mid-1800s, and is proceeding at a rate not seen over many recent millennia. It is undeniable that human activities have produced the atmospheric gases that have trapped more of the Sun's energy in the Earth system. This extra energy has warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land, and widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere, and biosphere have occurred.

Do scientists agree on climate change?

Yes, the vast majority of actively publishing climate scientists - 97 percent - agree that humans are causing global warming and climate change.

detailed answer

Earth-orbiting satellites and new technologies have helped scientists see the big picture, collecting many different types of information about our planet and its climate all over the world. These data, collected over many years, reveal the signs and patterns of a changing climate.

Scientists demonstrated the heat-trapping nature of carbon dioxide and other gases in the mid-19th century. Many of the science instruments NASA uses to study our climate focus on how these gases affect the movement of infrared radiation through the atmosphere. From the measured impacts of increases in these gases, there is no question that increased greenhouse gas levels warm Earth in response.

"Scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is unequivocal."

- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Ice cores drawn from Greenland, Antarctica, and tropical mountain glaciers show that Earth's climate responds to changes in greenhouse gas levels. Ancient evidence can also be found in tree rings, ocean sediments, coral reefs, and layers of sedimentary rocks. This ancient, or paleoclimate, evidence reveals that current warming is occurring roughly 10 times faster than the average rate of warming after an ice age. Carbon dioxide from human activities is increasing about 250 times faster than it did from natural sources after the last Ice Age.

References

References
Header image shows clouds imitating mountains as the sun sets after midnight as seen from Denali's backcountry Unit 13 on June 14, 2019. Credit: NPS/Emily Mesner

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Climate Change Evidence: How Do We Know?

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Vital Signs of the Planet: Global Climate Change and Global Warming. How do we know it's happening? Here's the evidence.

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Net Zero Strategy sets out how the UK will deliver on its commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050

outlines measures to transition to a green and sustainable future, helping businesses and consumers to move to clean power, supporting hundreds of thousands of well-paid jobs and leveraging up to £90 billion of private investment by 2030

reducing Britain's reliance on imported fossil fuels will protect consumers from global price spikes by boosting clean energy

it comes as the UK prepares to host the UN COP26 summit next week, where the Prime Minister will call on other world economies to set out their own domestic plans for cutting emissions

A landmark Net Zero Strategy setting out how the UK will secure 440,000 well-paid jobs and unlock £90 billion in investment in 2030 on its path to ending its contribution to climate change by 2050 has been unveiled by the UK government today (19 October).

Building on the Prime Minister's 10 Point Plan, today's UK Net Zero Strategy sets out a comprehensive economy-wide plan for how British businesses and consumers will be supported in making the transition to clean energy and green technology - lowering the Britain's reliance on fossil fuels by investing in sustainable clean energy in the UK, reducing the risk of high and volatile prices in the future, and strengthening our energy security.

The commitments made will unlock up to £90 billion of private investment by 2030, and support 440,000 well-paid jobs in green industries in 2030. This will provide certainty to businesses to support the UK in gaining a competitive edge in the latest low carbon technologies - from heat pumps to electric vehicles - and in developing thriving green industries in our industrial heartlands - from carbon capture to hydrogen, backed by new funding.

As part of the strategy, new investment announced today includes:

an extra £350 million of our up to £1 billion commitment to support the electrification of UK vehicles and their supply chains and another £620 million for targeted electric vehicle grants and infrastructure, particularly local on-street residential charge points, with plans to put thousands more zero emission cars and vans onto UK roads through a zero emission vehicle mandate

we are also working to kick-start the commercialisation of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made from sustainable materials such as everyday household waste, flue gases from industry, carbon captured from the atmosphere and excess electricity, which produce over 70% fewer carbon emissions than traditional jet fuel on a lifecycle basis. Our ambition is to enable the delivery of 10% SAF by 2030 and we will be supporting UK industry with £180 million in funding to support the development of UK SAF plants

£140 million Industrial and Hydrogen Revenue Support scheme to accelerate industrial carbon capture and hydrogen, bridging the gap between industrial energy costs from gas and hydrogen and helping green hydrogen projects get off the ground. Two carbon capture clusters - Hynet Cluster in North West England and North Wales and the East Coast Cluster in Teesside and the Humber - will put our industrial heartlands at the forefront of this technology in the 2020s and revitalise industries in the North Sea - backed by the government's £1 billion in support

an extra £500 million towards innovation projects to develop the green technologies of the future, bringing the total funding for net zero research and innovation to at least £1.5 billion. This will support the most pioneering ideas and technologies to decarbonise our homes, industries, land and power

£3.9 billion of new funding for decarbonising heat and buildings, including the new £450 million 3-year Boiler Upgrade Scheme, so homes and buildings are warmer, cheaper to heat and cleaner to run

£124 million boost to our Nature for Climate Fund helping us towards meeting our commitments to restore approximately 280,000 hectares of peat in England by 2050 and treble woodland creation in England to meet our commitments to create at least 30,000 hectares of woodland per year across the UK by the end of this parliament

£120 million towards the development of nuclear projects through the Future Nuclear Enabling Fund. There remain a number of optimal sites, including the Wylfa site in Anglesey. Funding like this could support our path to decarbonising the UK's electricity system fifteen years earlier from 2050 to 2035

The policies and spending brought forward in the Net Zero Strategy mean that since the Ten Point Plan, we have mobilised £26 billion of government capital investment for the green industrial revolution. More than £5.8 billion of foreign investment in green projects has also been secured since the launch of the Ten Point Plan, along with at least 56,000 jobs in the UK's clean industries - and another 18 deals have been set out at the Global Investment Summit to support growth in vital sectors such as wind and hydrogen energy, sustainable homes and carbon capture and storage.

Through energy efficiency measures, falling costs of renewables and more, the measures in the strategy also mean people's energy bills will be lower by 2024 than if no action was taken particularly as gas prices rise.

As the first major economy to commit in law to net zero by 2050 and hosts of the historic UN COP26 climate summit, the UK is leading international efforts and setting the bar for countries around the world to follow. The UK has hit every carbon budget to date - today's Net Zero Strategy sets out clear policies and proposals for meeting our fourth and fifth carbon budgets, and keeps us on track for carbon budget 6, our ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), while setting out a vision for a decarbonised economy in 2050.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:

The UK's path to ending our contribution to climate change will be paved with well-paid jobs, billions in investment and thriving green industries - powering our green industrial revolution across the country.

By moving first and taking bold action, we will build a defining competitive edge in electric vehicles, offshore wind, carbon capture technology and more, whilst supporting people and businesses along the way.

With the major climate summit COP26 just around the corner, our strategy sets the example for other countries to build back greener too as we lead the charge towards global net zero.

Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said:

There is a global race to develop new green technology, kick-start new industries and attract private investment. The countries that capture the benefits of this global green industrial revolution will enjoy unrivalled growth and prosperity for decades to come - and it's our job to ensure the UK is fighting fit.

Today's plan will not only unlock billions of pounds of investment to boost the UK's competitive advantage in green technologies, but will create thousands of jobs in new, future-proof industries - clearly demonstrating that going green and economic growth go hand in hand.

Both the Net Zero and Heat and Building Strategies build on the Prime Minister's Ten Point Plan in November 2020 which laid the foundations for a green industrial revolution, kick-starting billions of pounds of investment in new and green industries to help level up the country. To date, the UK has decarbonised faster than any other G7 country.

Published alongside these two strategies today is HM Treasury's Net Zero Review, an analytical report which explores the key issues as the UK decarbonises. It helps to build a picture of where opportunities could arise and the factors to be taken into account when designing decarbonisation policy. While there are costs in reaching net zero, the cost of inaction is much higher.

Notes to editors

Please find the full Net Zero Strategy and the Heat and Buildings Strategy.

The strategies published today build on an ambitious set of existing policies: the Prime Minister's Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, the Energy White Paper, North Sea Transition Deal, Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy, Transport Decarbonisation Plan, and Hydrogen Strategy, and the recent landmark commitment to decarbonise the UK's electricity system by 2035.

The Net Zero Strategy will be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as the UK's second Long Term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategy under the Paris Agreement.

Also published today is UK's first Net Zero Research and Innovation Framework which will support the delivery of the Net Zero Strategy by setting out the key net zero research and innovation priority areas for the UK over the next 5-10 years. Together these documents set out a long-term plan for the green economy that the govt will report against.

COP President-Designate, Alok Sharma said:

The UK continues to show climate leadership as we publish our roadmap to net zero by 2050. It shows the wealth of opportunities, including thousands of new skilled jobs, that a transition to a green economy can herald.

With COP26 opening in less than 2 weeks, leaders stepping up with more commitments has never been more urgent. I'm calling on countries across the world, particularly the G20, to commit to net zero by mid-century, ambitious 2030 emissions reduction targets and to set out credible implementation plans so we can limit global warming to well below 2C and keep the goal of 1.5 degrees within reach.

Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Hands said:

As we prepare to host the UN COP26 climate summit in Glasgow next week, the world is looking to the UK to show leadership and delivery as we plot our path to net zero emissions by 2050.

Today's plans will provide British consumers and businesses with the tools and the confidence they need to make the transition to clean energy, unlocking investment in low carbon technologies and creating high skilled jobs as we build a cleaner future that's underpinned by a secure, home-grown energy sector.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said:

Today's plans set the UK on a clear path to net zero by 2050 and demonstrate how we will harness the power of nature to get there.

As well as restoring and protecting peatlands and increasing tree planting, we are determined to grow towards a net zero economy. Whether it's funding to help farmers decarbonise or support to deliver a circular economy to cut down on waste, we will support sectors to adapt.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:

We're going further and faster than ever to tackle climate change. Together with an additional £620 million to support vehicle grants and charging infrastructure, our plans for an ambitious zero emission vehicle mandate show that we're leading the world on the switch to EVs.

We published our Transport Decarbonisation Plan in July which was just the start - as we look ahead to the COP26 climate change conference and beyond, we need to continue our efforts to deliver its ambitious commitments. This will provide certainty to drivers and industry as we create sustainable economic growth, boost job opportunities and clean up the air in our towns and cities.

Not only this - by boosting our world-leading sustainable aviation fuels programme with £180 million in funding, we can accelerate the development of sustainable aviation fuel plants in the UK and create thousands of green jobs across the country.

Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, said:

We need a whole systems approach for reducing our carbon emissions. The Net Zero Strategy establishes what is needed to decarbonise our economy over the next 30 years. In particular, it highlights the intensive activity needed in the next decade - from early-stage research to deployment of mature technologies, through to better understanding on how to help people make greener choices.

David Wright, Chief Engineer at National Grid said:

In the lead up to COP26, the UK has certainly raised the bar on ambition to tackle climate change - and we now need to see what this means in practice. Today's strategy builds on the 10 point plan, the energy white paper and a number of strategies that have been published in recent months, outlining what is needed to deliver a net zero future. Now the focus needs to be on implementation and investment in infrastructure and technologies. We're at a critical stage in the journey where net zero is possible with the technologies and opportunities we have today and, in order to deliver on this, we have to accelerate and ramp up efforts to deploy long-term solutions at scale.

Emma Pinchbeck, Chief Executive, Energy UK said:

The energy industry has led the way in reducing emissions in the UK - rapidly expanding our sources of clean power and investing billions every year. We will play a central role in the drive to reach Net Zero and by committing to have a decarbonised power system in place in the 2030s, our sector will also be providing the clean power needed to transform other sectors like housing and transport. The energy industry has shown what is possible with the right policies in place and is ready to invest further helping create jobs and growth across the country.

Tanya Sinclair, Director of Policy UK, Ireland and Nordics, ChargePoint said:

ChargePoint welcomes the government's bold step towards transport decarbonisation by announcing the introduction of a ZEV mandate today, the first commitment of its type in Europe. We have seen the positive impacts on EV uptake of these schemes in North America, where they have significantly built up availability and consumer confidence of electric vehicles.

Across our fast-growing charging sector, a UK ZEV mandate will create huge confidence for those operating and investing in the charging industry. This industry - consisting mainly of startups and scale ups - will for the first time be able to clearly anticipate demand for charging infrastructure and create a clear roadmap to meet these targets.

With this new policy, the UK is taking an essential step on the road to 2030 as well as contributing to the creation of a better EV driver experience in the UK.

Paul Willcox, Managing Director, Vauxhall, said:

Vauxhall welcomes the UK government's announcement to implement a zero emission vehicle mandate which will provide clarity to the UK motor industry and the rest of the electric vehicle ecosystem, on the basis of a 360-degree approach. Vauxhall believes a ZEV mandate can work in the UK provided there are complimentary targets on the other key parts of the electric vehicle ecosystem which are key to driving Britain to a more sustainable transport infrastructure. With our Ellesmere Port plant set to become the first electric vehicle only factory within the Stellantis group, we look forward to working with the government on the detail of how a ZEV mandate can be implemented and help support a sustainable vehicle marketplace in the UK.

Stephen Phipson, CEO of Make UK said:

Today's plans are a very positive step on the journey to net zero by 2050, with practical support to help businesses transition to green and clean production processes. The creation of 2 hydrogen clusters in Britain's industrial heartlands puts our manufacturing powerhouse at the centre of innovation and will enable companies to make the switch away from fossil fuels at greater speed. It will be vital to produce enough hydrogen supply to feed not just the industrial clusters but all the manufacturers across the country.

The infrastructure boost for EV cars and vans is a much needed and practical step forward and will be welcomed by industry. But defining the technology for HGVs, which are vital to manufacturing logistics, must not be forgotten. To build on this, it is important to make sure that today's green investment plans go hand in hand with upskilling of the country's workforces to make sure that we have the green skills to make these essential changes a reality.

Simon Roberts, Chief Executive of Sainsbury's, said:

This plan is a significant step forward in accelerating a green transition and will increase choice and opportunity for people and businesses of all sizes across the country. Sainsbury's will continue to play its part in tackling the climate crisis by helping our customers and colleagues eat better, inspiring them to make simple changes that are better for them and better for the planet too. We are committed to keeping 1.5 degrees within reach and helping the UK achieve net zero by 2050, now is the time for all of us to collaborate across industry and government to protect and restore our planet for generations to come.

Clare Barclay, Chief Executive Officer, Microsoft UK, said:

The clock is ticking. We have to turn pledges into performance and the government's Net Zero strategy coupling investment in innovation, energy and skills is welcome. Those who have the scale and resources to create lasting change must do so, enabled by technology. The UK can lead the way to the decarbonised economies we so urgently need.

Phil Bentley, Chief Executive Officer, Mitie, said:

The publication of the government's Net Zero Strategy is hugely welcome. We've already committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions across Mitie's estate by 2025 and anything which assists more businesses in setting ambitious targets is good news.

This announcement demonstrates government's commitment to delivering decarbonisation across Britain and will provide businesses with the certainty they need to invest in their own net zero strategies, while also helping accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles.

Louise Kingham, BP's Senior Vice President, Europe and Head of Country, UK said:

BP welcomes today's announcement and we look forward to our role supporting the UK's net zero ambitions, be it progressing green infrastructure such as the East Coast Cluster CCUS project, developing hydrogen projects, rolling out EV charge points, developing offshore wind, and creating the green jobs of the future.

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UK's path to net zero set out in landmark strategy

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The Net Zero Strategy sets out how the UK will deliver on its commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

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News about the effects of the effect of climate change

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News about the effects of the effect of climate change

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Greenhouse gas emissions from economic activities in the European Union returned to levels slightly higher than before the start of the coronavirus pandemic in the last quarter of 2021, the European Union's statistics office, Eurostat, reported on Monday.

The latest figures come as the EU looks to reduce dependency on Russian fossil fuels amid Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The bloc is also striving to stay on top of its climate pledges and increase the share of renewables in the energy mix.

What did the data show?

All of the EU's 27 member states saw a year-on-year increase in the fourth quarter of 2021, but Estonia saw the biggest rise (+28%), followed by Bulgaria (+27%) and Malta (+23%), the Eurostat data showed.

Germany saw emissions rise by 5% in the same period.

Individual household consumption accounted for 22% of emissions in the last quarter of 2021. Manufacturing and electricity production both contributed 21% each, agriculture 12% and transportation and logistics was responsible for 11% of CO2 equivalents.

In total, greenhouse gas emissions in the EU reached 1,041 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents in the last quarter of 2021, an increase from 1,005 million tons in the same period in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic hit.

In the fourth quarter of 2020, emissions in the EU had been down just over 4% on the same period a year earlier as people worked from home amid COVID restrictions. Other limitations, for instance on international travel, also contributed to unusually low levels of greenhouse gas emissions in 2020.

CO2 equivalents are a metric used to compare different greenhouse gases, such as methane, by converting their warming potential per metric ton to that of carbon dioxide.

Struggling to hit climate targets

Greenhouse gases are currently one of the main drivers of climate change. Scientists from the International Panel on Climate Change have warned that humanity must radically reduce emissions by 2030 in order to have a chance of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) compared to pre-industrial levels.

The 1.5 degree benchmark is regarded as the level of warming that might make it possible to avoid the worst effects of climate change.

The EU has set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 against its 1990 levels, and carbon neutrality - that is, no net carbon emissions - by 2050.

UN meteorologists have said that there is a 50-50 chance of hitting the crucial 1.5 degrees of warming within the next five years.

Will we go above the 1.5 degree limit in 2026?

Poor prospects for climate protection

The unsettling news from Geneva comes at the halfway point between COP26, the last World Climate Conference in Glasgow and the next one, COP27, in Egypt. Environment observers are watching with great concern, even as many Europeans focus on the war in Ukraine. No matter what happens next in eastern Europe, climate change will remain an ongoing emergency for all.

Author: Philipp Böll

er/msh (dpa, KNA)

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Climate change: EU emissions surpass pre-pandemic levels | DW | 16.05.2022

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Greenhouse gas emissions from economic activities in the European Union returned to levels slightly higher than before the start of the coronavirus pandemic in the last quarter of 2021, the European Union's statistics office, Eurostat, reported on Monday. The latest figures come as the EU looks to reduce dependency on Russian fossil fuels amid Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

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Good morning! The Climate 202 researcher Vanessa Montalbano is taking over while Maxine is out. If you live in the D.C. area, we hope you stayed cool while temperatures soared above 90 this weekend. But first:

The effects of climate change are advancing at a pace no one could have anticipated in California, as the state enters its third consecutive summer of a painful drought.

Research published in February showed that California's current drought season is linked to a longer megadrought, which has persisted since 2000.

But the 22-year period, which is the driest in 1,200 years, is fueled by human-caused climate change, according to environmental scientists. As a result, the state is battling relentless wildfire seasons that blot out the sky, forcing some people to keep their windows shut for months and others to become climate refugees.

Sasan Saadat, a senior policy expert for Earthjustice, said this megadrought is pushing Californians to make environmental choices that scientists didn't expect to come for decades.

For example, to conserve water resources amid dwindling supplies, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California last month ordered unprecedented limits to "nonessential" water use, or any water used for reasons other than public health, marking the most severe cutbacks ever enacted in the state and affecting about 6 million people.

"We didn't expect these results," Saadat told The Climate 202 when asked about the intensifying weather events Californians face almost every day because of human-caused climate change. "They're the result of the procrastination of our failures from before," Saadat said. And, he added, "things will get much worse if we continue to procrastinate."

Policy priorities

Despite California being known as a beacon for environmental policy across the country, state Sen. Dave Cortese (D) said state legislators have put the drought on the backburner.

According to Cortese, a matter of what issues should take priority has been a source of delay for California's state legislature. Part of the reason for the delay, he said, was hoping that the drought would end. The other part, however, is that the legislature was preoccupied with other issues, such as the pandemic, homelessness and wildfires.

But now, he said, that "can't be an excuse anymore," adding that the state needs to "make this the highest priority."

"These fights have to happen because we have no choice, to sit on our hands is going to result in a multiplicity of disasters and catastrophic consequences."

Meanwhile, a new climate plan calls for more gas

In September 2020, after wildfires had affected more than 3 million acres of land, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) vowed to ramp up California's climate change plan, citing the growing risks from severe heat, sea level rise, and impacts on environmental justice communities.

He also called the state's target of reaching 100 percent clean energy by 2045 "inadequate" and ordered the California Air Resources Board to draft its 2022 Scoping Plan - a climate action blueprint that is published every five years - and "evaluate pathways" to reach carbon neutrality by 2035 and phase out oil entirely.

But a draft of that new plan, which was released last week, still maintains the original 2045 target because it was "the most economically and technologically feasible route to carbon neutrality," according to the board.

"The modeling shows that the ambitious target towards 2035 does result in some significant costs that will have significant economic impacts," CARB Chair Liane Randolph told reporters, according to E&E News' Anne C. Mulkern. "When you're trying to transition away from fossil fuels, you need to replace that activity with something else. ... The 2045 target allows us to fold in those costs over time."

Apart from modest increases in renewable power, the plan relies on carbon capture technology for the elimination of air pollution and restates many of California's existing commitments to slow global warming, which has frustrated many environmentalists who at first saw Newsom's responses as a turning point.

"The plan doesn't accelerate any near-term solutions available today - like wind and solar, or more rapid electrification in our transportation and building sectors," Saadat said, calling the carbon removal target "wildly unrealistic" and "a failure to the communities who live with fossil fuel infrastructure in their neighborhoods."

Martha Dina Arguello, a co-chair of the CARB Environmental Justice Advisory Committee, who advised the board while it was writing the plan, agreed with Saadat and is pushing against the draft's direction.

"The California Air Resources Board's draft Climate Change Scoping Plan is disastrous for climate and leaves working class Californians behind. At a time when California needs to be phasing out fossil fuels, our top air regulators are bowing to fossil fuel lobbyists at the expense of our health and future," Arguello said in a statement.

A spokesperson for Newsom told the Climate 202 that "California is on the front lines of the climate crisis and the governor remains bullish on our aggressive climate goals. The governor welcomes the release of CARB's draft Scoping Plan and looks forward to engaging on the finalization of the state's climate plan."

The plan is currently in a 45-day public comment period, and is set to be finalized by the end of the year.

International climate

Australian voters chose climate in weekend election

Australian Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese, who campaigned on the promise of ambitious climate action, claimed victory on Saturday, beating incumbent Scott Morrison and ending nine years of conservative rule in the nation, Hilary Whiteman reports for CNN.

Albanese's party has pledged to cut emissions by 43 percent by 2030 and to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. At the same time, it plans to modernize Australia's energy grid and to scale up renewable projects while conceding that it will approve new fossil fuel infrastructure if it is environmentally and economically viable.

Marija Taflaga, lecturer in politics and international relations at the Australian National University, said Saturday's win for climate action was unprecedented. "I think everyone has been taken by surprise by these results ... I think it will mean there will be greater and faster action on climate change more broadly."

Although Albanese claimed his win on Saturday, it is not clear whether his party will secure enough seats to form a parliamentary majority. However, early counting suggests a swing toward climate-focused candidates who demand emissions cuts greater than those backed by the current coalition.

Climate change on hot seat at World Economic Forum this week

About one-third of the 270 panels scheduled for the World Economic Forum this week in Davos, Switzerland, will focus on energy security, climate change and its direct effects, Peter Prengaman reports for the Associated Press.

Topics for the various climate panels include "eco-anxiety," helping developing countries finance a clean energy transition, emissions reductions pledges, and considering climate risks or indirect effects on the environment when investing.

Many climate leaders are expected to attend this year's gathering, which is being held in person for the first time since the start of the pandemic. U.S. climate envoy John F. Kerry, Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate and Alok Sharma, the president of last year's United Nations conference on climate change, are participating.

Extreme events

5 dead, nearly 1 million without power after Canadian derecho

Violent thunderstorms tore across Toronto, Montreal and Quebec on Saturday, killing at least five people and cutting power to nearly a million, Jacob Feuerstein reports for The Washington Post.

With wind gusts of about 75 mph, the string of storms qualified as a derecho, or a thunderstorm complex that features powerful winds across a wide swath and sometimes compares to a hurricane. These kinds of severe storms are rare in the north, especially during this time of the year, and typically don't affect densely populated areas.

According to the Storm Prediction Center website, Saturday's derecho probably was triggered by climate change. A warming world is changing the locations of such damaging storm events, pulling warm, high-pressure domes northward.

On the Hill this week

On Tuesday: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will meet to examine President Biden's proposed budget for the Forest Service for fiscal 2023.

The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis will hold a hearing on how the nation can build an "affordable and resilient" food supply chain.

On Wednesday: The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on the nomination of Joseph Goffman to be an assistant administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Goffman, a veteran of the EPA under Barack Obama, has been the acting leader of the agency's Office of Air and Radiation since January 2021, and he has already helped develop tighter limits on tailpipe emissions from new cars and trucks.

With a tightly divided Senate, Goffman is expected to receive pushback from Republicans on the committee, who will probably denounce some of his writings from his time at Harvard Law School that were often critical of the EPA's efforts to dismantle environmental regulations under President Donald Trump.

The House Science, Space and Technology subcommittee on the Environment will also hold a hearing to discuss the future of weather research and innovation.

The House Appropriations subcommittee on homeland security will meet to discuss the Federal Emergency Management Agency's proposed budget for fiscal 2023.

The Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Interior, environment and related agencies will meet to discuss Interior's proposed budget for fiscal 2023.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources subcommittee on water and power will meet to examine multiple bills on drought preparedness and water infrastructure, including the "aquabus" legislation that was introduced by Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) last week to create a national water data framework and help bring water security to the Rio Grande Basin.

On Thursday: The House Appropriations subcommittee on defense will hold a hearing to discuss environmental restoration.

In the atmosphere

Two dead, 44 injured in unusual northern Michigan tornado - Jason Samenow and Keith McMillan for The Post

Parris Island wages battles, not war, against climate change - Michelle Liu for the Associated Press

California oil regulator confirms methane leak at idle oil wells in Bakersfield - Nathan Solis for the Los Angeles Times

Lots of good wildlife in/around #RockCreekPark these days, including a #BlackCrownedNightHeron, a turtle, a frog at @TregaronDC & a #BarredOwl 🐢 pic.twitter.com/zkJ3UJP0et
- Diane (@DianeKrauthamer) May 21, 2022

Thanks for reading!

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Analysis | Tensions rise as drought worsens and heat surges across California

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Placeholder while article actions load Good morning! The Climate 202 researcher Vanessa Montalbano is taking over while Maxine is out. If you live in the D.C. area, we hope you stayed cool while temperatures soared above 90 this weekend.

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Climate change will force new animal encounters and boost viral outbreaks

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Climate change will force new animal encounters and boost viral outbreaks

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Climate change will force new animal encounters — and boost viral outbreaks

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Modelling study is first to project how global warming will increase virus swapping between species.

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Part of the impact of global warming is already "irreversible", warns the UN

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Part of the impact of global warming is already "irreversible", warns the UN

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Many of the impacts of global warming are now simply "irreversible" according to the UN's latest assessment.

But the authors of a new report say that there is still a brief window of time to avoid the very worst.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that humans and nature are being pushed beyond their abilities to adapt.

Over 40% of the world's population are "highly vulnerable" to climate, the sombre study finds.

But there's hope that if the rise in temperatures is kept below 1.5C, it would reduce projected losses.

Just four months on from COP26, where world leaders committed themselves to rapid action on climate change, this new UN study shows the scale of their task.

"Our report clearly indicates that places where people live and work may cease to exist, that ecosystems and species that we've all grown up with and that are central to our cultures and inform our languages may disappear," said Prof Debra Roberts, co-chair of the IPCC.

"So this is really a key moment. Our report points out very clearly, this is the decade of action, if we are going to turn things around."

This report from the IPCC is the second of three reviews from the world's foremost body of climate researchers.

Last August, the first instalment highlighted the scale of the effect that humans were having on the climate system.

This new report looks at the causes, impacts and solutions to climate change. It gives the clearest indication to date of how a warmer world is affecting all the living things on Earth.

The report is a stark account of the fierce consequences that the world is already experiencing, like growing numbers of people dying from heat.

But the authors say that there is still a brief window of time to avoid the very worst.

"One of the things that I think is really, really clear in the report is that yes, things are bad, but actually, the future depends on us, not the climate," said Dr Helen Adams, a lead author on the report from King's College, London.

The report shows that extreme weather events linked to climate change like floods and heatwaves are hitting humans and other species much harder than previous assessments indicated.

The new study says that these impacts are already going beyond the ability of many people to cope.

While everyone is affected, some are being hit much harder. This outcome very much depends on where you live.

Between 2010 and 2020, 15 times more people died from floods, droughts and storms in very vulnerable regions including parts of Africa, South Asia and Central and South America, than in other parts of the world.

Nature is already seeing dramatic impacts at the current level of warming.

Coral reefs are being bleached and dying from rising temperatures, while many trees are succumbing to drought.

The report highlights the increasing impacts that are expected as the rise in global temperatures, currently around 1.1C, heads to 1.5C.

Continued and accelerating sea level rise will increasingly hit coastal settlements pushing them towards "submergence and loss".

Under all emissions scenarios, the IPCC expects a billion more people to be at risk from coastal specific climate hazards in the next few decades.

If temperatures rise to between 1.7 and 1.8C above the 1850s level, then the report states that half the human population could be exposed to periods of life-threatening climatic conditions arising from heat and humidity.

Commenting on the summary, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres described it as an "atlas of human suffering". He has no doubt as to where the blame lies.

"The facts are undeniable. This abdication of leadership is criminal. The world's biggest polluters are guilty of arson of our only home."

Health a growing concern

Diseases will likely spread more quickly in the coming decades, say the study's authors.

There is a particular risk that changing climactic conditions will ease the spread of mosquito-borne dengue fever to billions more by the end of this century.

As well as the physical health impacts, this report, for the first time, states that climate change may be exacerbating mental health issues, including stress and trauma related to extreme weather events and the loss of livelihoods and culture.

Warming threats to species

About half of the living organisms assessed in the report are already moving, to higher ground or towards the poles.

While up to 14% of species assessed will likely face a very high risk of extinction if the world warms by 1.5C, this will rise to up to 29% of species at 3C of warming.

For creatures living in areas that are classed as vulnerable biodiversity hotspots, their already very high extinction risk is expected to double as warming rises towards 2C, and to go up tenfold if the world goes to 3C.

Some researchers have speculated that going over 1.5C for a short period would be acceptable if temperatures came back down below the level soon afterwards.

This report says there are dangers with this approach.

"In any overshoot there's an increasing risk of hitting tipping points and triggering feedback, in the climate system, like permafrost thawing," said Linda Schneider from the Heinrich Boll Institute, who was an observer at the IPCC discussions.

"That would make it a lot more difficult, it could make it impossible to get back below 1.5C."

The report is disdainful of technological fixes like deflecting the Sun's rays or removing carbon dioxide from the air, saying they could make things worse.

The summary for policymakers puts much focus on "climate resilient development," which it says helps build the strength to cope with climate change in every society.

"If our development pathways are ones in which health systems don't improve much, education doesn't improve much, our economies aren't growing very fast and inequality remains a big problem, that's a world where a particular amount of climate change is going to have a really big impact," said Prof Brian O'Neill, an IPCC coordinating lead author from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in the US.

"In contrast, if it's a world where we are really making rapid progress on education and health and poverty, if climate change is imposed on that society, the risk will be much lower."

Follow Matt on Twitter @mattmcgrathbbc.

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Climate change: IPCC report warns of 'irreversible' impacts of global warming

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Many of the impacts of global warming are now simply "irreversible" according to the UN's latest assessment. But the authors of a new report say that there is still a brief window of time to avoid the very worst. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that humans and nature are being pushed beyond their abilities to adapt.

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Goal 13: Climate action - The Global Goals

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Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.