World leaders agreed then to try to limit warming to 1.5 degrees above levels in the late 19th century because problems mount quickly after that. Under each scenario, the report said, the world will cross the 1.5-degree warming mark in the 2030s, earlier than some predictions. The 3000-plus-page report from 234 scientists says warming is already accelerating sea- level rise and worsening extremes such as heatwaves, droughts, floods and storms. At most, natural forces or simple randomness can explain one or two-tenths of a degree of warming, the report says. The report described five future scenarios based on how much the world reduces carbon emissions.

Source: New Zealand Herald August 09, 2021 21:11 UTC