EARTH DAY
GLOBAL TEMPERATURES HAVE INCREASED BY ABOUT 1° CELSIUS IN THE PAST CENTURY Over the last 100 years, the average temperature on Earth has warmed by 1°C. In our day-to-day lives, we may not notice much of a difference if the temperature went up by one degree, but this temperature rise has had a significant impact on the planet. The temperature is continuing to rise, and the past five years are, collectively, the warmest years in the modern record. Currently, countries around the world are working towards the targets set out in the Paris Agreement which aim to keep the global temperature rise below 2°C and limit it to 1.5°C if possible. THE UNITED STATES IS THE SECOND LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) IN OUR ATMOSPHERE The US is home to only 4.4% of the world’s population, yet it is one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases. If everyone in the world burned fossil fuels and lived the way those in the US do, it would take four Earths to have enough resources for us all. Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions are the third highest per capita in the European Union, and this comes mainly from agriculture, transport, energy industries and residential emissions. There are clearly different challenges all over the world for nations to start to tackle in respect of climate change.
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