Global Warming To Develop Faster Than Expected; World Leaders To Hold Summit On Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions To Curb Climate Change
A recent study from the Linköping University in Sweden measuring natural methane emissions showed that global warming's progress will be faster than expected as increased temperatures were found to affect greenhouse gas emissions, reported Science Daily on Thursday.
"Everything indicates that global warming caused by humans leads to increased natural greenhouse gas emissions," said Sivakiruthika Natchimuthu, doctoral student at Tema Environmental Change in Linköping University, and lead author of the study. "Our detailed measurements reveal a clear pattern of greater methane emissions from lakes at higher temperatures."
The research team conducted several studies over the past two years and all findings reveal that natural greenhouse emissions tend to increase warmer temperature. Based on their latest study published in Limnology and Oceanography, a rise in temperature from 15 to 20 degrees Celsius nearly doubled the level of greenhouse gas methane.
"We're not talking about hypotheses anymore," said David Bastviken, professor at Tema Environmental Change, Linköping University. "The evidence is growing and the results of the detailed studies are surprisingly clear. [DB1] The question is no longer if the natural emissions will increase but rather how much they will increase with warming."
In efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions and consequently slowing down global warming, world leaders from 196 nations will go on a 12-day summit outside of Paris on Monday to come up with a plan to battle climate change, noted USA Today on Thursday.
The meeting of leaders, sponsored by the United Nations, will be attended by 50,000 people, including scientists, business heads and environmental group representatives.
"The divisions that existed in previous talks have gone away," said Jeff Nesbit, executive director of environmental group Climate Nexus.
The climate talks in Copenhagen six years ago ended with a poor agreement on taking steps to manage temperature rises as involving nations argued over which countries need to make the biggest step in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Many are optimistic that the summit on Monday, which aims to avoid a climate change of above 2 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels by 2020, will produce better results as more nations are expected to attend the meeting with national commitments.
According to experts, 2015 emerges as the hottest year Earth has ever experienced in recorded history.
