The statement from Zhou Bing, chief expert on climate services at China’s National Climate Center, underscores a widely accepted scientific consensus: global warming, driven largely by human activities, is a significant factor behind the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events worldwide.
Cause of Extreme Weather Events: Zhou Bing attributes the occurrence of extreme weather events such as wildfires, heatwaves, torrential rains, droughts, floods, and storms to the accelerating pace of global warming. This aligns with the understanding that warmer global temperatures lead to more frequent and severe weather extremes.
Temperature Increase: It is noted that the global land surface temperature during the 2011-2024 period was approximately 1.09 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels. Of this increase, about 1.07 degrees Celsius was caused by human activities. This highlights the role of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions in driving up global temperatures.
Temperature Comparison: In 2020, the global average temperature was about 1.2 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels, as reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This underscores the ongoing trend of global temperature rise that exacerbates climate impacts.
These points collectively emphasize the urgent need for global action to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the changing climate. The scientific community, through organizations like the IPCC and national climate centers, continues to monitor and analyze these trends to inform policies aimed at reducing climate risks and promoting sustainability.
