The reality check has arrived. Our planet has officially tipped over the edge, hitting that make-or-break 1.5°C warming mark.
Enough with the sugar-coating — it’s the red alert we’ve all feared, and now the choice couldn’t be clearer: stick to the status quo or rise up for the very planet that nurtures us. At .ECO® we’re not just your go-to for all things climate, the good and the bad, but we also have two pivotal programs dedicated to the well-being of our planet.
Our .ECO® Friendly Verified™ service is your secret weapon to make smart choices instead of falling for greenwashing tactics. When you spot the .ECO® Friendly Verified™ label, it’s a sign that the organization has passed our verification process, confirming their true commitment to the environment.
No more backing pretenders – we’re all about championing the authentic eco-leaders! Oh, and we don’t stop there. Through our .ECOnide Giveback Program™, we’re throwing 5% of our pre-tax profits into the ring for every dollar we get from partners associated with all .ECO® domain registrations. We’re not just talking the talk; we’re walking it too.
Your support enables us to drive impactful projects on a larger scale, including real-time efforts such as carbon capture solutions and renewable energy initiatives. These are not just hopeful potential solutions for the future; they are active sustainability projects happening now.
Immediate action is not just necessary, it’s imperative and long overdue.
What does the 1.5°C climate boundary mean?
Ever since the 2015 Paris Agreement, where 195 nations pledged to rein in global temperature increase, 1.5°C warming (higher than pre-industrial times) has been our guiding star in the climate change battle.
The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) set the stage for the pre-industrial measurements by picking the years between 1850 and 1900 as our go-to benchmark. But you may be thinking, didn’t the industrial revolution begin in the 1760s? Yes, and even though greenhouse gasses have been on the rise ever since, these years offer the earliest scoop on global land and sea temperatures making it a reliable baseline. Between 1850 and 1900, our average global thermometer was chilling at around 13.5°C (56.3°F), but fast forward to today, it sits at a toasty 15.02°C (59.4°F).
“June through August marked the world’s hottest three-month period in recorded
history, and July’s global temperature was more than 2°F hotter than last century’s
average”– United State’s National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
The recent EU Copernicus Climate Change Service report dropped a bombshell – over the past 12 months, the average temperature soared to 1.52°C. While the news is very alarming, it aligns with the string of climate crises witnessed worldwide in the past year. From scorching heat waves across Europe, Asia, and the U.S. to uncontrollable wildfires in Canada and Maui, extreme monsoons in India, and severe floods in the northeastern U.S. it’s evident that our climate is in crisis.
What’s the difference between 1.5°C and 2°C warming?
The Paris Treaty was shaped by a report indicating that the goal of 1.5°C is already too high and the events of the past year totally back it up. At this level, certain regions and ecosystems face increased risks, with the Global South most affected. However, in a 1.5°C world, we hit the brakes on some of the nastiest and irreversible climate chaos. According to a IPCC report, extreme heat is less common and intense in various corners of the world at 1.5°C warming. Even the coldest nights up in the high latitudes get milder, warming by around 4.5°C instead of the 6°C at two degree celsius warming.
And let’s not forget the Arctic – it’s heating up four times faster than the global average! In a 2°C world, we’re looking at levels about 10cm (4in) higher than the chiller 1.5°C world, says the Arctic Report Card by NOAA. It’s like the climate’s playing chess, and every move counts for the fate of our polar sea ice.
What needs to happen next?
The latest UN Emissions Gap report warns of a potential 3°C warming by the century’s end meaning that unprecedented action is already late to stay within the 1.5°C threshold. Innovations, especially in carbon capture, are emphasized by the likes of Bill Gates.
A recent Climate Crisis Advisory Group overshoot report suggests capturing 10 to 15 billion tonnes of CO2 annually. Yet currently, governments are on track to produce more than twice the amount of fossil fuels compatible with a 1.5°C pathway, highlighting the urgent need for stronger leadership.
“Strong leadership from the US and China is one of the most promising things I can see coming out of the COP28 climate summit”
– Sir David King, a leader of the Climate Crisis Advisory Group
COP28, the UN’s latest climate meetup in Dubai at the end of 2023, turned out to be a massive deal, with a whopping 85,000 people participating. They spent two weeks exchanging ideas, proposing solutions, and forming alliances with the major headline of collectively agreeing to move away from coal, oil, and gas, for the first time and operationalizing a climate loss and damage fund.
But hold your horses; it wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine. Some folks said the outcomes looked promising, but there was also a side of controversy served. Post-conference, the BBC dug up leaked documents revealing the UAE’s secret agenda to pursue new oil and gas deals. A total contradiction! Greta Thunberg, our climate superhero, called them out for “greenwashing” – basically, pretending to be eco-friendly without the walk to back the talk.
If you agree that change is long overdue, that our planet is in desperate need of support, and that collective action is the only way forward – Join the .ECO® movement and be among the first 100 .ECO® partners. It’s time to save our planet, Because You Care©.
Kess Elmore
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