UK Could Warm by 4°C This Century

An independent group of advisers to the UK government says the impacts of climate change are already affecting the country, and calls for urgent action to tackle the risks.

Globally, the group says, 14 of the 15 hottest years recorded have occurred since 2000:  climate change is happening now, with greenhouse gas emissions from human activity the dominant cause.

It says the UK could, by the end of this century, experience dangerously high temperatures far above their pre-industrial levels.  “Global emissions of greenhouse gases will need to peak soon and then decline rapidly for the Paris Agreement goals to be feasible.

“Even in this scenario, the uncertain sensitivity of the climate to greenhouse gases means there would remain at least a small chance of 4°C or more of warming by 2100.”

By 2081-2100, warming in the UK is likely to be between 1.4°C and 3.2°C, under a scenario assuming the highest level of greenhouse gas mitigation.  The highest emissions scenario, though, suggests a range from 3.4°-6.2°C.

Reducing emissions
The warning comes from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), set up to advise Parliament on progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for climate change.

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