Global Warming: Causes, Consequences, and How to Prevent a Catastrophe

The warming curve is no longer “somewhere in the future.” The year 2024 ended as the hottest on record, at about 1.55°C above the pre-industrial average (1850–1900). This was confirmed by the World Meteorological Organization and Europe’s Copernicus service. Their data show that the past 12 months have often hovered around or above the 1.5°C threshold, although the Paris Agreement assesses a long-term average, not individual years. WMO and Copernicus. (World Meteorological Organization, climate.copernicus.eu)

What is global warming and why is it happening?

Global warming is the long-term rise in Earth’s average temperature caused by greenhouse gases. The IPCC (the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) states clearly in its synthesis report: “Human activities—primarily through greenhouse gas emissions—have unequivocally caused global warming.” IPCC AR6 – SPM. (ipcc.ch)

The most important gas is CO₂. The concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere has risen by about 50% in less than 200 years, a pace without precedent in the historical record. NASA – CO₂ Vital Signs. (NASA Science)

Consequences we can already see (world and Europe)

• Extreme heat and longer heatwaves, which increase mortality and strain healthcare systems.
• Droughts and more frequent wildfires, but also intense downpours and flash floods—a simple rule: warmer air holds more moisture, so extremes intensify.
• Glacier retreat and a faster rise in sea level.

Europe (including Central Europe) is among the fastest-warming regions in the world; in its European State of the Climate 2024 report, Copernicus highlights an increase in heatwaves, persistent droughts in the south, and ice loss in the Alpine ranges. ESOTC 2024 – Copernicus. (climate.copernicus.eu)

How does this affect Slovakia?

What we see across Europe is also playing out in Slovakia: hotter, longer summers; more frequent episodes of drought; but also more intense torrential rainfall and floods in small catchments. The trend in the region is consistent with European observations and projections. ESOTC 2024 – Copernicus. (climate.copernicus.eu)

How much time do we have, and what does “1.5°C” mean?

The 1.5°C limit is not an “apocalypse trigger,” but a threshold beyond which the risk of irreversible changes and escalating damages increases. To keep a chance of limiting warming to 1.5°C (with little or no overshoot), global greenhouse-gas emissions must peak no later than around 2025 and fall by about 43% by 2030 compared with 2019. IPCC – WGIII press release. (ipcc.ch)

Most common myths, briefly explained

• “It’s the Sun or volcanoes.” No—measurements clearly attribute the current warming to greenhouse gases from human activity; natural factors (the Sun, volcanoes) cannot explain the observed trend. IPCC AR6 – SPM. (ipcc.ch)
• “The planet has always changed.” Yes—but never this fast in human history, and never with such a clear emissions “fingerprint.” NASA – Evidence. (NASA Science)

How to prevent a catastrophe:

1. End coal burning and phase down oil and gas; replace them with renewables (wind, solar, hydro) and grid flexibility (storage, smart grids). IPCC – WGIII. (ipcc.ch)
2. Massive energy savings: home insulation, heat-recovery ventilation, low-temperature heating.
3. Electrify transport and infrastructure: public transit, rail, car sharing, cycling; where it makes sense, electric mobility.
4. Industrial innovation: zero-emission steel and cement production, a circular economy, capturing process emissions.
5. Agriculture and diets: reduce food waste, support local and seasonal production, improve land and water management.
6. Heat-resilient cities: shading, greenery, blue-green infrastructure, permeable surfaces.
7. Adapting to extremes: warning systems, flood-risk maps, landscape retention measures.
8. Responsible public procurement: governments and municipalities should buy low-carbon solutions and materials.
9. A boost for innovation: research, pilot projects, startups in energy, materials, and adaptation.
10. A just transition: protect vulnerable households and regions so the change is socially sustainable.

These steps aren’t science fiction: the IPCC estimates that solutions costing up to USD 100/tCO₂e (about €92 at an exchange rate of ~0.92) could by 2030 cut global emissions by at least half compared with 2019. IPCC – SPM WGIII. (ipcc.ch)

What can individuals, companies, and municipalities do?

• Households: energy audits, switching to a heat pump, solar PV, saving hot water, cutting food waste, prioritizing “no tailpipe” transport.
• Companies: measure and reduce carbon footprints (Scopes 1–3), buy zero-emission electricity, reduce material use, adopt circular models.
• Towns and cities: greenery and water-retention measures, shade the most critical streets and stops, support public transit, plan around climate risks, protect vulnerable groups during heatwaves.

Recommended videos (to understand the connections)

IPCC – AR6 Synthesis Report (trailer, 2 min):
A brief explanation of why scientists talk about the “last window of opportunity.” (YouTube)

IPCC – AR6 press conference (full video):
If you want to go deeper, here is the full recording of the official briefing. (YouTube)

One-sentence summary

Global warming is a measurable, human-caused fact; 2024 was record-warm, and if we want to limit future risks and costs, the key is to cut emissions quickly within this decade while adapting in parallel to changes that are already underway. IPCC, WMO. (ipcc.ch, World Meteorological Organization)

Sources

1. IPCC – AR6 Synthesis Report, Summary for Policymakers: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/
   A: PDF SPM: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_SYR_SPM.pdf
2. WMO – 2024 was the hottest year on record (~+1.55°C): https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/wmo-confirms-2024-warmest-year-record-about-155degc-above-pre-industrial-level
3. Copernicus – 2024: the first year above 1.5°C (ERA5), European State of the Climate 2024:
   A: https://climate.copernicus.eu/copernicus-2024-first-year-exceed-15degc-above-pre-industrial-level
   B: https://climate.copernicus.eu/esotc/2024
4. NASA – CO₂ vital signs (~50% increase in <200 years): https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/carbon-dioxide/