Question: How will the amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere affect the climate during this century?
We will be using the Very Simple Climate Model. It looks at how carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere affects temperature changes. It only focuses on CO2 and does not consider things like wind, rain, or other greenhouse gases.
The model measures carbon emissions in gigatons of carbon (GtC). It shows that around 80% of the greenhouse gases produced by humans come from CO2.
Using data from 2015, the model finds a strong connection between CO2 levels and temperature. It suggests that when CO2 levels double, the temperature could rise by about 3 °C (37.4 °F). For example, if CO2 levels go up from 400 parts per million (ppm) to 800 ppm, temperatures might increase by 3 °C.
Experts say we should try to limit the temperature rise to 2 °C above what it was before the industrial era. Many scientists believe we should aim for an even stricter limit of 1.5 °C to avoid serious effects from climate change.
Every time the carbon concentration in the atmosphere doubles, global temperature rise by __________ .
Experts recommend limited the temperature increase to __________