The first curve was the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (or, more generally, all greenhouse gases, GHGs) and the second was the average global temperature curve. Also read | ‘COVID-19 is alarm bell for climate change, more outbreaks may follow’The second curve of direct consequence to us is the global average temperature curve. While no single event can be directly attributed to climate change, the collective trends are consistent with climate change predictions. COVID-19 has unwittingly given humanity a brief respite from the climate change curve. This is also a make-or-break moment for the climate trajectory which has to be flattened within a few years if we are to avoid dangerous climate change.

Source: The Hindu June 09, 2020 18:47 UTC