If the world continues to burn fossil fuels at its current rate, climate models predict the average global temperature will increase by as much as 4° f, by 2050. this does not take into account a projected increase in emmisions as developing countries become industrialized.

the intergovernmental panel on climate change (links to an external site.) (ipcc) in early october reported that it is still possible to limit average global warming to 1.5°c, or 2.7°f — the more ambitious target under the paris climate agreement (links to an external site.) — this century. but to do so, we would need to drastically cut emissions in the next 12 years, halving current levels by 2030.

this will take an unprecedented international effort. and many scientists believe we’ve already made irreversible changes, that we are already on course for at least 2°c, or 3.6°f, of warming by midcentury. it will take years, probably decades, for the climate system to fully register the greenhouse gases we’ve already emitted, are still emitting (links to an external and will emit in the coming years.

but as the ipcc argues, it’s essential that we take every possible step now to reduce emissions to avoid the worst outcomes in the coming decades and centuries. continued high emissions result in even more alarming changes to the planet by 2100 — with warming upward of 4°c, or 7.2°f. but we still have a real shot at limiting it to 2°c or 3°c.

research and summarize the folowing:

what are the impacts on the earth of a substantial increase in global temperatures?
what actions can be taken to reduce green house gas emmisions?
are there viable ways to remove carbon from the atmosphere or other ways to reduce the greenhouse effect?
what do you think the governments of the world should do about climate change? are you happy with the direction the united states has taken in this regard lately?
what are you personally willing to do (if anything) to ?
link at least two sources in your disucssion. you must read your classmates posts and go through their sources until you find one that you find particularly interesting and comment on it.