2016: The year of climate records
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They have occurred this year, some are positive and others negative, but in all cases they have been considered climate records for which, according to science, immediate action must be taken because the planet is facing an "emergency".
Here are six facts that show that this year has marked a new climate history for the planet. We highlight, mainly, the activities that allow us to understand that, in the future, renewable energy will mark a new path in the world economy.
Negative records
1. The highest temperature in the history of the planet
In 2016, it has become evident that the planet's temperature is on the rise. The Aerospace Agency (NASA) announced that April set a new historical record in terms of temperature variability both on the Earth's surface and in the oceans. The average temperature for the month was 1.11°C higher than the average from 1951 to 1980.
And to prove that global warming is increasing at an unconscionable rate, May also reached a global average temperature of 0.93 ºC above the reference period (1951-1980), and it seems that the increase will continue in the coming months. These data have led scientists to declare a "climate emergency".
2. CO2 level in Antarctica is the highest in 4 million years.
The concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere has been breaking records every year for decades, but 2016 surpassed what was imagined. For the first time in 4 million years the level of CO2 reached the highest level in Antarctica, surpassing the symbolic 400 parts per million (ppm), according to measurements by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The southern hemisphere was the last place where CO2 reached this mark, receiving the impact of fossil fuel emissions, the main driver of greenhouse gases.
3. Coral reefs suffer from bleaching
Goodbye to colors. Coral reefs - known for the various shades of their pigmentation - are exposed to bleaching of their coloration. According to information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coral bleaching is a direct consequence of climate change. Although the event is global, it has mainly affected corals in the United States, Puerto Rico and Australia. In the latter country, "the worst bleaching ever recorded" was recorded last April.
Positive records
1. The signing of the Paris Agreement: A new climate story.
In April -while the planet reached a historic temperature record- more than 170 countries of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change signed the Paris Agreement and gave a clear sign of the fight against global warming, at the same time achieving an all-time record number of countries gathered on the same day to sign an international treaty. In fact, some states announced their immediate ratification - Fiji, Maldives and Tuvalu, among others. Undoubtedly, the risk of some islands disappearing in the face of rising sea levels makes it even more urgent to adopt measures to curb climate change.
2. Electricity with 100% renewable energy
In May, Uruguay generated 100% of its electricity with renewable energy during 24 hours. Through Twitter, the firm SEG Ingeniería specified that, of the total energy consumed, 70.53 % originated from hydro dams, while 21.13% was wind generated, 7.96 % came from biomass and 0.39 % was solar energy.
In the same month, Portugal became the first nation in the European Union to meet all its electricity needs for four days in a row using only renewable energy. From 6:45 a.m. on Saturday the 7th until 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday the 11th, Portugal was "powered" exclusively by wind, water and sun.
3. Solar airplane: Renewable energy as fuel
For the first time in the history of aviation, a solar airplane crossed the Atlantic in a three-day flight with renewable energy as the only fuel. The experimental plane "Solar Impulse 2" landed at the airport of Seville (Spain), at the end of stage 15 of its round-the-world flight with the sun as the only fuel, after 71 hours and 8 minutes of non-stop solo flight.
Source: ConexiónCOP
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