Exclusive: Planet is headed for at least 2.5C of heating with disastrous results for humanity, poll of hundreds of scientists finds

Planet is headed for at least 2.5C of heating with disastrous results for humanity, poll of hundreds of scientists finds

Hundreds of the world’s leading climate scientists expect global temperatures to rise to at least 2.5C (4.5F) this century, blasting past internationally agreed targets and causing catastrophic consequences for humanity and the planet, an exclusive Guardian survey has revealed.

Almost 80% of the respondents, all from the authoritative Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), foresee at least 2.5C of global heating above preindustrial levels, while almost half anticipate at least 3C (5.4F). Only 6% thought the internationally agreed 1.5C (2.7F) limit will be met.

Many of the scientists envisage a “semi-dystopian” future, with famines, conflicts and mass migration, driven by heatwaves, wildfires, floods and storms of an intensity and frequency far beyond those that have already struck.

Numerous experts said they had been left feeling hopeless, infuriated and scared by the failure of governments to act despite the clear scientific evidence provided.

  • tmsbrdrs2@lemmy.world
    31·
    6 months ago

    Having driven a Nissan Versa, they aren’t fun on the freeway, country roads or anywhere you’d be around anything the size of a standard SUV or current truck.

    • blazera@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      6 months ago

      I think thats a lot of how we got here in the first place, the problem isnt the versa, its the big ass trucks and SUVs. People dont wanna get crushed by these monsters, so they get their own suburban tank. And every year the arms race of SUVs big enough to feel safe in gets worse. Thats just the American way, making life dangerous for everyone else so you can feel safe.

      • InEnduringGrowStrong@sh.itjust.works@sh.itjust.works
        1·
        6 months ago

        Grown-ass adults barely clear the hood of the huge trucks they sell these days.
        A few years ago, a pedestrian getting hit by a truck would have a somewhat decent chance of rolling on top of the sloped frontend, which is much less deadly than taking all that momentum in the chest from a square wall of steel.