The question is no longer whether the climate is changing, but what we will do about it. Science is categorical: human activity is warming the planet at an alarming rate. The consequences of this are felt everywhere, from the droughts in Africa to the devastating fires in America. What does this mean for us?
Warming is a fact
We are already witnessing long-term changes in the average temperatures and meteorological conditions on Earth. Since the 1980s, each decade has been warmer than the previous one, according to the data. The World Meteorological Organization reports that 11 of the hottest years in history have been after 2015. 2024 turned out to be the hottest in history, with temperatures exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels - significantly above the parameters of the Paris Agreement.
Why is this happening?
Natural factors cannot explain the rapid warming observed over the last century. The fault lies mainly with human activity. The massive use of coal, oil and gas in industry, transport and households releases greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide (CO2). This gas traps heat in the atmosphere, like a blanket, leading to rising temperatures. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased by over 50% - unprecedented levels in recent geological history. Analyses show that this CO2 comes directly from fossil fuels.
What do we already see?
Climate change is already having a serious impact on the world. Some of the clearest consequences include: rising temperatures; increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events (such as heat waves, droughts and floods); changes in rainfall; rising sea levels; loss of sea ice.
The fires in Los Angeles in January 2025, which are estimated to have cost over $100 billion, are just one example of the costly consequences. Scientists from World Weather Attribution (WWA) point out that climate change has increased the likelihood of hot and dry weather, which has created conditions for disaster. In 2022, parts of East Africa experienced the worst drought in 40 years, putting over 20 million people at risk of starvation. WWA claims that such droughts have become at least 100 times more likely.
What awaits us in the future?
Nearly 200 countries have pledged to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. It is important to note that this goal refers to long-term average warming, not a one-off achievement of this value. Even at 1.5°C, the consequences will be serious. If warming reaches 2°C or more, the effects will be significantly more severe.
Also worrying are the so-called "tipping points" - thresholds after which the climate system can change rapidly and irreversibly. It is not clear exactly where they are, but they may include the collapse of the Greenland ice sheet, changes in the Atlantic Ocean current, or further loss of tropical forests.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), between 3.3 and 3.6 billion people worldwide are highly vulnerable to climate change. People in poorer countries are at greatest risk, as they have fewer resources for adaptation. Crop failure associated with extreme weather events can raise food prices worldwide.
What can we do?
The IPCC emphasizes that achieving net-zero CO₂ emissions is key to limiting global warming. This means maximizing emissions reduction and actively removing residual amounts from the atmosphere. Many countries already have net-zero emissions targets or are considering them. There is progress in the development of renewable energy sources and electric vehicles, but global CO₂ emissions are still at record high levels.
The World Meteorological Organization estimates that long-term warming reached between 1.34°C and 1.41°C in 2024. At current rates, the 1.5°C target may be crossed around 2030. UN Secretary-General António Guterres acknowledged that "overshooting" 1.5°C is already inevitable, but expressed hope that temperatures could be brought back below 1.5°C by the end of the century. If we do not take significant measures, warming could reach nearly 3°C by 2100.
What's next?
World leaders meet every year to discuss their climate commitments. The next meeting, COP31, will be held in Turkey in November 2026. Major changes must come from governments and businesses, but each of us can contribute through our daily choices:
- Limiting energy consumption.
- Using public transport or alternative ways of getting around.
- Limiting meat consumption.
- Supporting sustainable agriculture.
- Participating in environmental initiatives.
These actions, taken by each of us, cannot solve the problem on their own, but they can reduce the personal carbon footprint and support wider systemic changes. Will we be able to reverse the course of events? The answer depends on all of us.