What you may not know about climate change

Thousands of studies conducted by researchers all over the world have documented temperature increases at the Earth's surface, as well as in the atmosphere and oceans. Many other aspects of the global climate are also changing. Human activities, particularly emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases from fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, and land-use change, are the primary cause of the industrial-era climate changes.

Every country on every continent is being affected by climate change. It is wreaking havoc on national economies and affecting people's lives. Weather patterns are shifting, sea levels are rising, and extreme weather events are becoming more common.

Although travel bans and economic slowdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 6% in 2020, this improvement is only temporary. Climate change is not taking a break. When the global economy recovers from the pandemic, emissions are expected to rise again.

To save lives and livelihoods, both the pandemic and the climate emergency must be addressed urgently.