[Explanation] Focus of COP26 What is the rise in average temperature "1.5 degrees"?

The UN conference "COP26", which discusses measures to deal with the worsening climate change, will open in the United Kingdom on October 31, Japan time.

The major focus of this "COP26", which is attracting worldwide attention, is whether the participating countries can work together to limit the rise in the world's average temperature to "1.5 degrees Celsius".

Hideki Mushiaki, a commentator, will explain what "1.5 degrees" means.

How far is global warming going?

The issue of climate change has a major impact on our lives, and it is said that this conference will be an important one that will influence the course of this issue.

As global warming progresses, there are concerns that serious weather disasters will occur, such as “record heat waves”, “heavy rains”, and even “typhoons” becoming more powerful.

How far has this warming progressed?

This is a graph showing changes in the average temperature in the world.

The United Nations group, IPCC, made up of scientists from around the world, decided in August that the cause of global warming was human activity for the first time, and the average global temperature for the last 10 years has already been reached. Announced that it has risen 1.09 degrees.

And I estimated that the high temperature of 1 degree in 50 years has increased 4.8 times, and the heavy rain once in 10 years has also increased 1.3 times.

Now, we are under pressure to respond to the effects of global warming all over the world.

What is the focus "rise in average temperature" 1.5 degrees ""?

Right now, the temperature has risen once, but what if it keeps rising?

According to the IPCC, when the average temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the high temperature of 1 degree in 50 years increases 8.6 times, and the frequency of heavy rains of 1 degree in 10 years also increases 1.5 times.

If it goes up to 2 degrees, the high temperature once in 50 years will be 13.9 times, and the heavy rain once in 10 years will be 1.7 times.

The goal of COP26 this time is "1.5 degrees", which is how low this can be kept.

The main focus is on whether the participating countries can work together to limit the rise in global average temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The current reduction target is far from "1.5 degrees", and measures need to be strengthened.

Can this goal of "1.5 degrees" be achieved?

UNEP (United Nations Environment Program) announced that the average global temperature will rise by at least 2.7 degrees Celsius by the end of this century simply by achieving the greenhouse gas reduction targets set by each country for 2030 this month. ..

And it is far from achieving the goal of 1.5 degrees, and we are demanding strengthening of measures.

In fact, it is said that it is necessary to reduce emissions by about 45% by 2030 in order to achieve the target of 1.5 degrees, but the current targets of each country are that emissions will increase. The situation.

In the face of such a reality, the discussion of COP26 is drawing attention as to whether each country can work together to raise the reduction target.