The Global Climate 2011-2020: WMO | 06 Dec 2023

Source: TH

Why in News?

Recently, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has published a report titled- The Global Climate 2011-2020: A Decade of Acceleration, concerning the alarming acceleration of climate change and its multifaceted impacts across the planet.

What are the Key Highlights of the Report?

• Temperature Trends:
  • The decade 2011-2020 emerged as the warmest on record for both land and ocean.
  • Global mean temperature soared to 1.10 ± 0.12 °C above the 1850-1900 average, with each decade since the 1990s surpassing previous ones in warmth.
  • Record high temperatures were reported in numerous countries, with 2016 (due to an El Niño event) and 2020 standing out as the warmest years.

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions:
  • Atmospheric concentrations of major greenhouse gases (GHG) continued to rise, especially CO2, reaching 413.2 ppm in 2020, primarily due to fossil fuel combustion and land-use changes.
  • The decade witnessed an increase in average growth rates of CO₂, highlighting the pressing need for sustainable emissions reduction to stabilize the climate.
• Oceanic Changes:
  • Ocean warming rates accelerated significantly, with 90% of accumulated heat stored in the ocean. Warming rates doubled in the upper 2000m depth from 2006-2020, impacting marine ecosystems.
  • Ocean acidification due to CO₂ absorption posed challenges for marine organisms, affecting their shell and skeleton formation.
• Marine Heatwaves and Sea Level Rise:
  • Marine Heatwaves increased in frequency and intensity, affecting about 60% of the ocean's surface between 2011 and 2020.
  • Global mean sea level rise accelerated to 4.5mm/yr from 2011-2020, mainly due to ocean warming and ice mass loss.
• Glacier and Ice Sheet Loss:
  • Glaciers globally thinned by about 1 meter/year between 2011 and 2020, with unprecedented mass loss, affecting water supplies.
  • Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets lost 38% more ice compared to 2001-2010, contributing significantly to rising sea levels.
• Arctic Sea Ice Decline:
  • Arctic sea ice continued its decline during the summer melt season, with a mean seasonal minimum extent 30% below the 1981-2010 average.
• Ozone Hole and Successes:
  • The Antarctic ozone hole diminished in the 2011-2020 period, credited to successful international action under the Montreal Protocol.
  • Efforts led to reduced chlorine entering the stratosphere from ozone-depleting substances.
• Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
  • Extreme weather events hindered progress toward SDGs, impacting food security, human mobility, and socioeconomic development.
  • Improved early warning systems reduced casualties but economic losses from extreme events escalated.
  • The 2011-2020 decade was the first since 1950 when there was not a single short-term event with 10,000 deaths or more.

What are the WMO’s Recommendations for Mainstreaming Action on Climate and Development Goals?

• Enhancing collective resilience against current and future global crises through collaboration and cooperation with international organizations and their partners
• Strengthening science-policy-society interaction to advance synergistic action
• Promoting institutional capacity-building and cross-sectoral and international collaboration at national, institutional, and individual levels, especially for the global South.
• Ensuring policy coherence and coordination among policymakers across sectors and departments for enhancing climate and development synergies at the national, sub-national, and multi-national levels.