Climate Change
This is the best intro in the world. This is the best intro in the world. This is the best intro in the world. This is the best intro in the world.
Current State
Climate change is disrupting the Earth’s climate system in ways that threaten the foundations of human wellbeing. By burning fossil fuels, clearing forests, and altering the land, humanity is releasing large amounts of greenhouse gases that trap extra heat in the atmosphere. This is pushing the planet beyond its natural limits. As a result, global temperatures are increasing, ice sheets are melting, and weather patterns are becoming more extreme. Sea levels are rising, and ecosystems are under stress.
These changes increase the risk of crossing dangerous tipping points – irreversible shifts in Earth’s systems that could lock in long-term damage. Communities around the world are already experiencing more heatwaves, droughts, floods, and storms. Without urgent action, continued climate disruption risks triggering irreversible changes in Earth’s systems, undermining ecosystems, human health, and societal stability for generations to come.
Impacts
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Mauris elementum a egestas faucibus semper non orci aliquam vel. Tempus neque nunc lorem in ut porttitor suspendisse. Sed tempus imperdiet pellentesque porttitor eu tincidunt diam. Lectus dictum habitasse eleifend venenatis pellentesque hac. Sit dictumst purus vestibulum et dapibus tincidunt. Imperdiet orci vivamus eget enim rhoncus aliquet. Sed in felis habitasse in praesent rhoncus ut arcu ornare.
Torrential Rainfall
Extreme precipitation events are becoming more frequent and intense, causing flash floods, infrastructure damage, and disrupting transportation systems across urban and rural areas.
Floods
Rising water levels threaten communities worldwide, displacing millions of people.
Heatwaves
Record-breaking temperatures stress human health and strain energy systems.
Droughts
Extreme precipitation events are becoming more frequent and intense, causing flash floods, infrastructure damage, and disrupting transportation systems across urban and rural areas.
Wildfires
Increasingly severe fire seasons destroy vast forest areas and threaten wildlife.
Samed Kavak
“Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Vitae justo risus consectetur rutrum diam vitae ut laoreet. Cras leo viverra rutrum varius nunc habitant. Quam sed facilisis morbi sollicitudin feugiat augue nulla sed.”
Samed Kavak
Control Variables
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Mauris elementum a egestas faucibus semper non orci aliquam vel. Tempus neque nunc lorem in ut porttitor suspendisse. Sed tempus imperdiet pellentesque porttitor eu tincidunt diam. Lectus dictum habitasse eleifend venenatis pellentesque hac. Sit dictumst purus vestibulum et dapibus tincidunt. Imperdiet orci vivamus eget enim rhoncus aliquet. Sed in felis habitasse in praesent rhoncus ut arcu ornare.
Atmospheric CO₂ Concentration
Source: Data from Lan et al., 2024 and Lan & Keeling, 2024. • This figure shows the annual global mean of atmospheric CO2 concentration from 1979-2023, and the marginally different dataset of CO2 concentration as measured at Mauna Loa in Hawaii, which integrates data over a longer timespan (from 1959-2023). The red line shows the PB of 350 ppm, while the green line represents the pre-industrial baseline of 280 ppm.
Definition
Atmospheric CO₂ is a primary greenhouse gas emitted by human activities such as fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, and cement production. It is a key driver of Climate Change.3 CO₂ is relatively straightforward to monitor through atmospheric measurements, satellite observations, and carbon budget assessments.
Unit
Parts per million (ppm)
Historical Range
Over the course of Earth’s history, CO₂ levels have naturally fluctuated between about 180–200 ppm during ice ages and around 280 ppm during the pre-industrial Holocene period.
Planetary Boundary (PB)
Scientists have proposed a PB for CO₂ at 350 ppm, based on paleoclimate evidence and climate modeling. This threshold represents a point beyond which the risks of triggering irreversible changes, such as large-scale melting of polar ice sheets, increase significantly. It also aligns with the internationally recognized goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels, as agreed upon in the Paris Climate Agreement.
Atmospheric CO₂ Concentration
Source: Data from Lan et al., 2024 and Lan & Keeling, 2024. • This figure shows the annual global mean of atmospheric CO2 concentration from 1979-2023, and the marginally different dataset of CO2 concentration as measured at Mauna Loa in Hawaii, which integrates data over a longer timespan (from 1959-2023). The red line shows the PB of 350 ppm, while the green line represents the pre-industrial baseline of 280 ppm.
Definition
The net radiative forcing sums up all the ways human activities impact the global climate. This includes emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O), as well as aerosols and land-use changes. Radiative forcing is a key measure of how much additional heat energy is added to the Earth system. It integrates the effects of all human activities that influence the planet’s energy balance and therefore represents the overall strength of human-induced climate change.3 While direct TOA fluxes can be measured via satellites, estimating the human-caused component depends on climate models. This makes it a powerful, system-level signal, but also more abstract and less directly observable than CO₂ or temperature.
Unit
Historical Range
During the pre-industrial Holocene, the radiative forcing remained relatively stable with small fluctuations due to land cover changes and volcanic activity,239,240 indicating a stable energy balance under which human civilizations developed. Significant positive forcing began with the Industrial Revolution, as greenhouse gas concentrations rose due to fossil fuel combustion and land conversion.
Planetary Boundary (PB)
Scientists have proposed a PB for total anthropogenic radiative forcing at +1.0 W/m², relative to pre-industrial levels. This threshold is based on the climate system’s sensitivity to greenhouse gas forcing, observed responses of polar ice sheets to warming, and growing evidence of climate instability at forcing levels above +1.5 W/m².1 Exceeding this boundary increases the risk of irreversible climate impacts and long-term system feedback loops.
Climate change is disrupting the Earth’s climate system in ways that threaten the foundations of human wellbeing. By burning fossil fuels, clearing forests, and altering the land, humanity is releasing large amounts of greenhouse gases that trap extra heat in the atmosphere. This is pushing the planet beyond its natural limits. As a result, global temperatures are increasing, ice sheets are melting, and weather patterns are becoming more extreme. Sea levels are rising, and ecosystems are under stress.
These changes increase the risk of crossing dangerous tipping points – irreversible shifts in Earth’s systems that could lock in long-term damage. Communities around the world are already experiencing more heatwaves, droughts, floods, and storms. Without urgent action, continued climate disruption risks triggering irreversible changes in Earth’s systems, undermining ecosystems, human health, and societal stability for generations to come.
Map Headline
Source: Data from Lan et al., 2024 and Lan & Keeling, 2024. • This figure shows the annual global mean of atmospheric CO2 concentration from 1979-2023, and the marginally different dataset of CO2 concentration as measured at Mauna Loa in Hawaii, which integrates data over a longer timespan (from 1959-2023). The red line shows the PB of 350 ppm, while the green line represents the pre-industrial baseline of 280 ppm.
Key Drivers
Fossil fuel burning
Fossil fuel burning directly increases CO2 concentration, which subsequently affects total radiative forcing.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
A second pathway involves non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions, aerosols from sources such as agriculture, and changes in albedo resulting from land-use changes and natural ecosystem degradation. Aerosols and land-use changes exemplify how the Climate Change boundary is closely linked to other Planetary Boundaries. Changes in any environmental domain can impact Climate Change, highlighting the interconnected nature of the Planetary Boundary processes.
Learn More
Post Headline 4
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa.
Post Headline 3
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa.
Post Headline 2
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa.
Post Headline
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa.