Global warming is taking place and no one can deny the fact. Two new independent scientific studies published in Nature proved that the planetary temperatures will rise substantially over the next century. What is even more surprising is that the studies have revealed that the damage has already been done and even if humans abstain from further polluting the environment at present, the temperature will still increase by at least 2 degrees Celsius by 2100.

Previous studies have also indicated that the temperatures may rise in the future due to the high carbon emissions taking place in the present, but the two studies performed recently gave a specific idea as to the range of temperature increase, after calculating various environmental data available.

The researchers also suggest that temperatures will increase by much more if humans continue the current rate of emissions.

Global temperature rise studies

One of the studies used statistical analysis to determine that there is more than 95 percent chance of the planet warming by at least 2 degrees Celsius. On the other hand there was just a 1 percent chance of the temperature rise to be 1.5 degrees Celsius or less in the next 100 years. Researchers pointed out that the likely range for the temperature increase is actually 2.0-4.9 degrees Celsius.

The median range was determined to be around 3.2 degrees Celsius. Researchers also said that achieving temperature rise lesser than 1.5 degrees Celsius is almost impossible, as human carbon emission is not likely to be decreased at the rate which is needed to minimize the increase.

One other study showed similar results as well.

In that research, scientists gathered the data of past fossil fuel emissions and greenhouse gases formations. These gave them an idea of the rate at which these gases are getting accumulated in the atmosphere. Through these calculations, they arrived at the conclusion that the temperatures will rise by at least 2 degrees Celsius as well.

In fact, this study also noted that the 2-degree increase cannot be stopped even if humans suddenly stopped using fossil fuels overnight. The study also posited that if the current rate of emissions continues for the next 15 years, the temperatures may even increase by as much as 3 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

What can be done?

While completely stopping emissions is impractical and will likely never happen, there are certain steps that the various nations can take. Researchers have said that the Paris treaty, which almost halves the emissions from factories and plants, is possibly the best option right now. However, the Trump administration has backed away from it, leading to speculations about the uncontrolled emission rate of U.S. industries.