Human emissions of greenhouse gases have caused rapid global warming. This has made high-impact, heat extreme events around the globe more and more intense over the past 70 years. Heat extremes, such as heatwaves, can cause severe damage to infrastructure by damaging bridges and railways. They also harm ecosystems, and can lead to loss of life.
Greenhouse gas emissions reached new highs recently. Recent studies suggest that the world will miss the globally agreed target of keeping the global temperature increase to below 1.5⁰C more than it was in pre-industrial times. If the global temperature increase exceeds 1.5⁰C, scientists have predicted increased risks to health, food and water security, and economic growth.
To prevent this, carbon dioxide emissions must be reduced to an amount that is small enough for natural and human made carbon sinks to absorb, so that zero human caused carbon dioxide emissions are left in the atmosphere. This is known as net zero and it needs to happen by 2050. Many countries have adopted pledges targeting net zero.
