We are warming up, and fast. The KNMI states that if we continue along this path, warming to the 1.5 degree mark will not be achieved until 2030 at the earliest. That is nine years from now. This 1.5 degree limit is a kind of boundary value about which science says that the consequences are very threatening if it is exceeded. Another 9 years until those threatening consequences, and that while the climate in the Netherlands has already changed. Time to take action.
Global warming
There is more extreme weather such as heatwaves, heavy rains and fewer periods of frost. The Netherlands now has the same climate as northern France 25 years ago [1]. Moreover, the Netherlands is warming up twice as fast as the rest of the world [2]. This is due to the difference in warming between land and oceans. Above water, the extra heat caused by the increase in greenhouse gases is converted into evaporation, not warming. Water vapour is a greenhouse gas, which further increases the concentration of greenhouse gases that retain heat. This happens above land, and as the Netherlands has a lot of water and borders the oceans, we are warming up faster!
Climate Adaptation Summit
The global climate agreements now on the table will lead to 3 degrees of warming. On 25 and 26 January 2021 the Netherlands organised the Climate Adaptation Summit (CAS) 2021. With dozens of world leaders and involved organisations the Netherlands wants to take steps to better prepare our world for the consequences of climate change through climate adaptation.
Climate adaptation
Climate adaptation is the process of reducing the impact of climate change on society. One example is making the Afsluitdijk climate-proof by raising it. It is an adaptation of the infrastructure to cope with the climate consequences. Everything under the slogan 'the climate is changing, we are changing with it'.
Climate mitigation
However, this is in contrast to climate mitigation. In other words, prevention is better than cure. 2020 was the warmest year ever. While the rest of the world is warming up by 1 degree, the Netherlands is warming up twice as fast. Despite various climate summits like this, CO2 emissions continue to rise worldwide.
In short, taking action for climate adaptation is of great importance, but we should not forget that we want the EU to be CO2 neutral by 2050. This is where our mission as Hedgehog Company comes from. To ensure that climate adaptation will be minimally necessary, we set this goal at 2030. As sustainability entrepreneurs, we are here for you.
Sources & links
- https://nos.nl/artikel/2369959-van-schaatskou-naar-recordwarmte-wat-zegt-dat-over-het-klimaat
- https://www.knmi.nl/over-het-knmi/nieuws/nederland-warmt-ruim-2-keer-zo-snel-op-als-de-rest-van-de-wereld
