The planet is dying, although some will still deny it. The data is unequivocal: according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), by 2030, the Earth will surpass 1.5°C of average global temperature compared to the pre-industrial era. This will only happen if the countries that signed the Paris Agreement meet their targets. But the situation is likely to be even worse. Not only because the U.S. withdrew from this international commitment, but also because environmental pollution shows no signs of slowing. According to an Oxfam study, the planet’s richest 1% needed only the first ten days of 2025 to emit their annual per capita share of carbon dioxide, calculated at 2.1 tons. That’s 77 million people earning over $150,000 a year, releasing roughly 76 tons of CO₂ every twelve months, primarily through private jet travel.
Another report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) states: “If the 2030 commitments were met, the global temperature increase would be limited to between 2.6 and 2.8°C. If current policies are not improved, the world will face a catastrophic 3.1°C increase.”
What does it mean for the planet to heat up relative to the pre-industrial era? “Rainfall will cause worse floods, droughts will ruin crops, and winds will sweep away entire cities. We also have disasters like the Dana storm in Valencia or the floods that submerged Florianópolis, Brazil. Extreme heat likely won’t be solved with air conditioning. Wildfires are becoming increasingly intense,” says Ariana Krochik, a young environmental activist from Argentina and co-founder of Consciente Colectivo. “2030 will not be different from today. It will be more intense,” she adds.
“The IPCC says that the main front of climate change is the actions humans can take to slow these processes. But it’s very complicated to stop them, given how we are today and how this will …
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Author: Santiago Carrillo / High Times
