Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming: How the Planet is Warming and Why the 1.5 Degree Threshold is Critical

Greenhouse Effect and Greenhouse Gases — How Is the Planet Warming?

Some of the energy from the sun is reflected back into space from the earth; However, gases such as carbon dioxide ($CO_2$), methane ($CH_4$) and nitrogen oxide ($N_2O$) accumulated in the atmosphere prevent this heat from escaping and warm the planet like a blanket. The natural greenhouse effect is necessary for life to continue on earth; However, since the Industrial Revolution, the concentration of these gases has artificially skyrocketed due to the use of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) and deforestation. Disruption of heat balance directly triggers the process we call "global warming" today.

1.5 Degree Threshold — Why Is It a Critical Limit?

The main goal of the Paris Climate Agreement is to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to the pre-industrial period.

According to scientists, this value is not a simple weather difference; It is the red line determined to prevent the planet from triggering irreversible tipping points. When the temperature increase reaches 2 degrees, the risk of complete melting of polar ice caps, sea level rise, deadly heat waves and permanent drought increases exponentially.