news
Summary
The concept of committed warming refers to the future warming resulting from carbon dioxide emissions that have already occurred. Despite confusion surrounding this idea, it is important to note that if greenhouse gas emissions cease, temperatures will stabilize or potentially decrease over time. This change is due to the natural processes of CO2 absorption and ocean heat transfer, which can balance out the warming effects of existing emissions. This understanding is essential for effective climate policy and action.
Highlights -🌍
- Committed Warming: The warming caused by past CO2 emissions is significant but can be mitigated.
- Thermal Inertia: Oceans take a long time to respond to changes, leading to continued warming even after emissions stop. 🌊
- Emission Scenarios: Stopping emissions leads to temperature stabilization, unlike maintaining current levels of greenhouse gases. 🔄
- Climate Policy: The urgency to reduce emissions is a political choice, not a technical one. 🏛️
One of the most important concepts in climate science is the idea of committed warming — how much future warming is coming from carbon dioxide that we’ve already emitted.
Understanding the extent of committed warming is vital because it informs our current climate situation. If there is a significant amount of committed warming already “locked in,” then we have much less ability to avoid the levels of warming that policymakers judge as dangerous.
In a previous post about what made me optimistic about the climate problem, I wrote:
When humans stop emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, the climate will stop warming.
I received emails and comments from people who found that difficult to believe, so I thought I’d write a post about why this is true and shed light on the reasons behind the controversy surrounding it.
Read the full post at Climate Brink.
