Is It Achievable to Keep Earth’s Temperature Below 2°C?

The world has been experiencing an increase in the average global temperature of about 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Human activities are one of the main reasons that have led to the warming of the earth's climate over the past two centuries.

Since the industrial revolution began in the mid-19th century, the increase in global average temperature has mainly been due to the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and gas, as well as deforestation and the emission of greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide have increased, which in turn causes the greenhouse effect and the rise of the earth’s temperature over time. 

The conference of parties on climate change, also known as the United Nations Climate Conference, is one of the most important conferences on climate change worldwide and the best avenue to discuss the above. The Conference of Parties was initiated in 1992 under the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), with 197 countries in alignment. 

All of these countries unanimously agreed to work together to limit the global temperature increase to be below 2 degrees Celsius in order to avoid dangerous impacts of climate change that result in the loss of human life and environmental destruction. 

This year Egypt is the host of COP Edition 27, and it is expected that the conference will cover all the important topics on the agenda, including climate change mitigation, adaptation, and finance to reduce the impact of global warming on the planet. The world is gathering to find the solution, reduce these emissions, and stabilize the ecosphere. 

Egypt is one of the developing countries that contributes the least actions towards the solution of climate change issues, so it is a great start to be a host for COP this year. Albeit, the Egyptian government has in recent times embarked on awareness campaigns on the current problems that we all experience. 

In addition, a lot of organisations and companies are starting to go green and implement good environmental practices. It is important to realize that we should not remain in the same dire state forever; we thus need to move together in achieving the goals because it’s our planet, our community, and our lives that we need to save not only for now but also for the next generation. 

According to the UN’s intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) report, CO2 emissions from human activities need to be cut by 45% by 2030 to meet Paris Agreement goals; this will of course be achievable, and that will lead to decreasing the earth’s temperature. This will be possible if there is international cooperation between different countries, as climate change happened aided through our collective activities. 

This is the only way we will be capable of changing the current situation, because everyone is affected by climate change; the rise of temperature, floods, drought, and many catastrophic events are sure to continue if we do not take action now. To reduce the earth’s temperature, we need to speak up as one people and make our voices heard. Every year, the Conference of Parties meets; however, this is simply not enough. 

Spreading awareness to the people around us—our friends, families, children—all of them are part of the community. In my opinion, start with yourself and the people around you, by education, social media, and a lot of workshops that will make a difference, besides all the governmental policies that will be discussed and agreed on. Remember also that everything will be achievable if we at least start to plant a tree.