Global Citizen Alert

Climate crisis is a global warming and climate change impacts. The term and the alternative term climate emergency have been used to describe the threat of global warming to humanity, and to urge aggressive climate change mitigation.

Climate change refers to a shift in the Earth’s climate, including its average temperature and weather conditions. Our planet has experienced climate change throughout its history. But while past episodes of climate change can be attributed to natural causes, the rapid climate change we’re experiencing now is because of human activity.

For more than a century, humans have burned fossil fuels to heat their homes, power their cities, and fuel their vehicles. All of these activities emit large amounts of greenhouse gas like carbon, which trap the sun’s heat in the Earth’s atmosphere and cause temperatures to rise.

Climate change has wide-ranging impacts on the planet and its people. Rising temperatures result in erratic weather patterns and higher sea levels – which cause more frequent flooding and natural disasters. All of this poses a critical threat to humanity, with experts warning that climate change could displace 700 million people in Africa alone.

While climate change affects every person on the planet, it’s the world’s poorest who bear the brunt of its effects. Changes in the climate affect the ability of countries to feed populations, develop their economies, and build weather-resilient infrastructure. For many nations in the Global South, the threat posed by climate change is existential. Island nations like Maldives and Fiji are at risk of losing large swathes of habitable land if sea levels continue to rise. What do scientists say is needed to prevent the worst impacts of climate change?

We must prevent the Earth from warming more than 1.5 degrees celsius

Fighting climate change is possible. Experts believe that if we prevent the Earth from warming more than 1.5 degrees celsius, we can limit the worst effects of climate change, from devastating storms to famines. Already, the Earth has warmed over 1.1 degrees since 1880 – but action now can prevent temperatures from rising further.

What action must be taken to prevent warming beyond 1.5 degrees?

countries must drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions to reach net-zero emissions by 2050

• governments must end their reliance on fossil fuels and invest in renewable energy

• banks and businesses should stop investing in dirty technologies like coal and gas

Limiting warming to 1.5 degrees requires an all-out approach. Scientists believe that if we rein in greenhouse gases enough to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, we can keep temperatures from rising further. To do this, we need those in power – especially the world’s biggest polluters – to swap fossil fuels for renewable technologies, and fast.

Everyone, no matter where they live, can help turn the tides on the climate crisis. You can campaign with Global Citizen for climate action from world leaders. You can step up for the planet in your own community by adopting more eco-friendly habits. And you can encourage others to learn about the issue by raising your voice with your friends and family. Together, we can make a difference for the planet and its people.