The effects of climate change are being felt across the globe, with rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and shifting ecosystems. The past decade has seen record-breaking heat, shrinking glaciers, and increased sea levels.
Governments, businesses, and individuals must act swiftly to limit warming to 1.5°C and prevent catastrophic impacts. These 41 climate change statistics provide a data-driven overview of the causes, current impacts, and future projections related to this global crisis.
Top Climate Change Statistics (Editor’s Pick)
This shortlist provides a strong foundation for understanding the causes of climate change and highlight the magnitude of human influence on the environment.
- The human-induced rise in carbon dioxide is greater than the natural increase observed at the end of the last ice age 20,000 years ago.
- The acidity of the oceans is increasing 10 times faster than at any point in the last 65 million years.
- Human activities have raised the atmosphere’s carbon dioxide content by 50% in less than 200 years.
- The ocean has absorbed between 20% and 30% of total anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions in recent decades (7.2 to 10.8 billion metric tons per year).
- Since the onset of industrial times in the 18th century, human activities have raised atmospheric CO₂ by 50%—meaning the amount of CO₂ is now 150% of its value in 1750.
Causes of Climate Change
The primary driver of climate change is the rapid increase in carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, largely due to human activities. As global demand for energy continues to grow, the challenge of reducing emissions becomes even more pressing.
- Human activities have raised the atmosphere’s carbon dioxide content by 50% in less than 200 years.
- The human-induced rise in carbon dioxide is greater than the natural increase observed at the end of the last ice age 20,000 years ago.
- Since the onset of industrial times in the 18th century, human activities have raised atmospheric CO₂ by 50%—meaning the amount of CO₂ is now 150% of its value in 1750.
- In 2022, surface transport was the largest emitter in the UK, producing 103 MtCO₂e, followed by buildings at 81 MtCO₂e, while land use contributed the least with only 1 MtCO₂e.
- The acidity of the oceans is increasing 10 times faster than at any point in the last 65 million years.
- Heating of the ocean accounts for over 90% of the trapped energy.
- The ocean has absorbed between 20% and 30% of total anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions in recent decades (7.2 to 10.8 billion metric tons per year).
- Global demand for energy is projected to increase by 12–21% between 2016 and 2030.
- The UK’s energy sector CO₂ emissions per person have been reduced by more than 5% per year on average over the 2011–2016 period.
Sources: NASA, Climate Change Committee, UK GOV, IPCC, Committee on Climate Change
Observed Effects and Current Impacts
Global temperatures continue to rise, contributing to extreme weather events, shrinking glaciers, and rising sea levels. In Europe, 2023 saw record-breaking heat, wildfires, and flooding, leading to significant economic losses and environmental damage.
- The 10 most recent years are the warmest years on record.
- Earth was about 2.45°F (1.36°C) warmer in 2023 than in the late 19th-century (1850–1900) pre-industrial average.
- Global surface temperature has increased by 1.1°C by 2011–2020 compared to 1850–1900.
- Between 2010 and 2020, highly vulnerable regions, home to 3.3–3.6 billion people, experienced 15 times higher mortality rates from floods, droughts, and storms compared to low-vulnerability regions.
- Earth’s temperature has risen by an average of 0.11°F (0.06°C) per decade since 1850, or about 2°F in total.
- 2023 was the warmest year since global records began in 1850.
- In 2023, Europe experienced the warmest June to August period on a global scale, with temperatures 0.7°C above the 1991–2020 average.
- In 2023, the average sea surface temperature for the ocean across Europe was the warmest on record.
- The five warmest years on record for Arctic land have all occurred since 2016.
- In 2023, economic losses related to weather and climate in Europe are estimated at least €13.4 billion.
- Global sea level rose about 8 inches (20 cm) in the last century.
- In 2023, Europe saw above-average fire danger, with large fires in Portugal, Spain, Italy, and especially Greece, where the largest wildfire ever recorded in Europe burned 96,000 hectares.
- The 2023 wildfire season saw the fourth-largest burnt area on record in the EU, with around 500,000 hectares burned.
- Flooding in 2023 affected an estimated 1.6 million people in Europe, causing 81% of the year’s economic losses due to weather and climate events.
- Glaciers have shrunk, losing over 6,000 gigatonnes of ice in the last 30 years.
- Global sea level has risen by around 20 cm over the past century, faster than at any point in the last 3,000 years.
- In July 2022, UK temperatures exceeded 40°C for the first time on record.
- The chance of the UK seeing 40°C days is now 10 times more likely than in the past.
- Greenland lost an average of 279 billion tons of ice per year between 1993 and 2019, while Antarctica lost about 148 billion tons per year.
Sources: United Nations, NASA, IPSS, Climate, Copernicus, AGUPubs, PNAS, Copernicus, UK GOV
Future Projections and Consequences
The future impacts of climate change are expected to be severe, with global warming projected to exceed 1.5°C during the 21st century. Without significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the world could face temperature rises of up to 2.9°C by the end of the century.
- Global warming will exceed 1.5°C during the 21st century, making it harder to limit warming below 2°C without additional action.
- Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause 250,000 additional deaths per year from undernutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress.
- Direct damage costs to health are estimated to be US$2–4 billion per year by 2030 (excluding costs in health-determining sectors like agriculture and water).
- Sweden commits to reach net-zero emissions by 2045, with at least an 85% reduction relative to 1990 levels.
- Human-induced global warming is increasing at 0.2°C per decade.
- The world is on track for a 2.7°C temperature rise by the end of the century.
- The world is in a climate emergency. Without a dramatic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, warming could reach 2.9°C this century.
- Unchecked emissions growth could result in climate change of 4°C or more by 2100.
- The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has set a target for London to be net zero carbon by 2030.
- Sweden became the first country in 2017 to legislate for a net-zero GHG target.
Sources: IPCC, World Health Organization, European Commision, United Nations, UN Environment Programme, Committee on Climate Change, London Gov
Conclusion
If current trends continue, global warming is expected to exceed 1.5°C within the 21st century.
Without substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, temperatures could rise by as much as 2.9°C by the end of the century. To prevent this, governments, industries, and individuals must work together to reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, and invest in renewable energy solutions.