.
Climate change continues to be a pressing issue as the latest news reveals the dire consequences of human activities on the planet. In Canada, a youth climate case will go to trial in Vancouver in 2026, highlighting the urgency of addressing the climate emergency. Meanwhile, Lions Bay was warned in 2022 about the increased risk of landslides and debris flows due to climate change, and Vancouver is among the Canadian cities losing weeks of wintry days.
The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has long warned about the impacts of human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and farming livestock, on the planet. The panel has issued a code red for humanity, emphasizing the need to limit warming to 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels. However, as of Dec. 21, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have risen to 424 parts per million, a 50% increase since 1960.
NASA scientists have also confirmed that the Earth is now 1.3 C warmer than it was in the 1800s, and 2023 was the hottest year on record globally. Despite these alarming statistics, the world is not on track to meet the Paris Agreement target to limit global temperature rise.
The latest data from the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, a global atmosphere monitoring lab, shows that human activities have significantly contributed to the rise in carbon dioxide levels. This has led to heat-trapping greenhouse gases, causing an increase in the planet’s surface temperature and resulting in severe weather events like the deadly heat dome in B.C. and catastrophic flooding in 2021.
The urgency to address climate change is evident, and leaders must take immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of the climate emergency. The consequences of inaction are already being felt, and it is crucial to limit warming to 1.5 C to avoid further catastrophic events.
As we enter 2025, it is clear that the world needs to come together and take bold steps to combat climate change. The youth climate case in Vancouver and the warnings issued to Lions Bay serve as a reminder that the time to act is now. We must all do our part to reduce our carbon footprint and protect the planet for future generations.