Climate Change Progress: Where Are We Now?

Worsening environmental factors have made evaluating the world’s climate change progress more urgent than ever. Ever since the First Earth Summit in 1972, people across the globe have aimed to conserve swiftly depleting natural resources. Scientists continue to warn policymakers and social organizations to keep calling out businesses for their destructive practices.

But after over 50 years of struggling to fight for the environment, the question remains: have our efforts as a species led to progress, or are they taking a back seat? Are these steps substantial enough to ward off climate change and its deadly consequences?

Understanding the Problem

The effects of climate change are something humans are learning to live within today’s world as it continues to reshape the planet and how its inhabitants adapt. The problem isn’t singular at all — it’s a domino effect of multiple interconnected issues, each exacerbating the other.

A Warming World

There is no precedent for human activity warming the planet as rapidly as it has in recent history, a trend that began with the Industrial Revolution in the mid-1800s. Burning fossil fuels to power technological advancements has significantly increased carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

This warming is well-documented. In 1875, the average global temperature was 52.5°F, rising to 55.6°F by 2023. NASA’s ongoing temperature analysis confirms that Earth’s temperature has increased by at least 1.9°F (1.1°C), providing undeniable evidence that the planet is heating up.

The Paris Agreement committed its signatories to efforts to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. However, in recent decades, global temperatures have continued to rise at an alarming rate, bringing the world ever closer to this critical threshold. The persistent rising temperature ripples through the natural systems, worsening other climate-related issues. While the temperature increase may seem small in numerical terms, its consequences are catastrophic and felt worldwide.

Storms, Droughts and Infernos

Among the most destructive effects of a heating planet is the worsening weather events that are becoming more frequent and intense as the years pass. Droughts, floods, wildfires, and storms are becoming more common and intensifying in severity.

The heat supercharged storms. Hurricane Helene was the strongest recorded ever to strike Florida’s Big Bend. In Asia, the Philippines saw six typhoons in just a month, while Super Typhoon Yagi ravaged 26 of Vietnam’s provinces and killed over 300 people on its way.

Europe also experienced terrible flooding as Storm Boris dropped a month’s worth of rain in just 24 hours that overflowed rivers, causing flash floods and riverine flooding. Southern Africa also saw the worst drought it ever saw in a hundred years, driven partly by El Niño but also fueled by flash floods in other parts of the continent. These extreme weather events are wreaking havoc on communities, infrastructure, and agriculture, displacing millions and causing economic damages that may take years to fully assess.

Sinking Shorelines

Sea levels are rising, causing coastal communities to shrink. The rapid heating of the planet is accelerating the melting of ice deposits and glaciers at an alarming rate. The warm temperature caused the memorable and dramatic collapse of Larsen A and B Ice Shelves in 1995 and 2002.

On the U.S. East Coast, an estimated 2,000 to 74,000 square kilometers are highly susceptible to land subsidence. Water levels rise by 1 to 2 millimeters annually, threatening critical infrastructure in major cities along the Eastern Seaboard. It’s a game of inches — and a race against time.

Beyond the U.S., many Asian countries are also experiencing land subsidence. In India and Bangladesh, sinking rates reach up to 2 centimeters per year, while in Pakistan, the land is sinking by approximately 1 centimeter annually. Across China, a third of the country is at risk, with urban areas reportedly subsiding at more than 1 centimeter per year.

The High Price We Pay

The consequences of climate change go beyond rising temperatures. For humans and other living beings, essential resources for survival are being severely impacted. Climate change is drying up critical water sources, reducing crop viability, and damaging ecosystems in ways that cannot be undone. The world’s reservoirs and wetlands are shrinking while groundwater levels are increasingly depleted. Agricultural droughts are also worsening, with maize crop yields expected to decline by 24% due to rising temperatures, drastic shifts in rainfall patterns, and elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.

Climate change is also a major driver of extinction, threatening over 14,000 species already on the red list. If global temperatures rise by 2°C by 2100, up to 18% of land animals could face a high risk of extinction.

As ecosystems supporting biodiversity continue to be altered, wildlife and human livelihoods are at risk. The long-term effects of these disruptions include food insecurity, loss of biodiversity, and increased health risks due to extreme heat and worsening air pollution.

The Progress of Human Efforts

From Stockholm to Kyoto, what progress has humanity made in addressing the climate crisis? Despite human life’s daunting challenges, notable progress has been witnessed in several areas. Governments, businesses, and individuals alike have begun to invest in sustainable solutions to further climate change progress.

Rising Renewables

Solar energy goes all the way back to 700 BCE when ancestors of the ancient world used the sun to light fires and torches, but the solar cell we know today began in the late 1800s when the first solar cell was invented. Burning fossil fuels is the largest contributor to climate change, and alternatives are being sought. Today, solar energy has become one of the most promising developments in the fight against climate change. 

While more than 80% of the world still runs on fossil fuels, about 29% of today’s electricity is powered by renewable sources. With renewable energy essentially accessible to every country in the world,  it is hoped that 90% of the world’s power use should come from renewable energy by 2050 as the use of solar and wind power rises.

Broken Climate Agreements

The Paris Agreement is the latest development in climate treaties, requiring countries to submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and outline their plans to reduce emissions every five years. However, these commitments have fallen short, with only 15 countries meeting the deadline — accounting for less than 8% of the 194 parties that signed the agreement.

The agreement has also faced criticism for its lack of ambition and enforcement. Since NDCs are not legally binding, countries can set their targets without facing consequences if they fail to meet them. The free-rider problem is another concern, as some nations benefit from global climate action taken by others without making significant contributions themselves — though this issue is less pressing given that only 15 out of 194 countries have adhered to their commitments.

Race to Net Zero

Despite the lack of credible action, the UN-backed Race to Zero campaign encourages countries, companies, and institutions to immediately reduce emissions. Despite inaction from some nations, the campaign aims to halve global emissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions within their means by 2050.

As of June 2024, a coalition of 107 countries has adopted net-zero pledges, collectively responsible for around 82% of global emissions. However, the real challenge lies in ensuring these commitments translate into tangible action rather than following the same pattern of unmet promises seen in the Paris Agreement.

In reality, the world is not on track to meet its climate commitments, and governments continue to fall short of what is required. Even if all 195 parties to the Paris Agreement fully participated, global greenhouse gas emissions would only decrease by 2.6% by 2030 — still 40% below the target set by the agreement. Only 27 countries have enshrined their net-zero commitments into domestic legislation.

The burden of action falls heavily on the world’s largest belchers. Three major greenhouse gas contributors — China, the U.S., and India — account for at least 42.6% of global emissions, while the bottom 100 countries collectively contribute only 2.9%. While these larger nations bear a greater responsibility, small contributions from lower-emission countries can still play a meaningful role in the global effort to combat climate change.

The Future of Climate Progress is Hope in Action

Despite many countries’ empty promises and inaction, hope remains something people hold onto for a better future, though it alone isn’t enough. Significant strides have been made, but they’re still insufficient. The recent climate change report calls for enhanced efforts through cooperation and collaboration. However, there is much work left to do. Climate action must take precedence to prevent the projected temperature rise before it’s too late for humanity.