Question

You've already seen the graph on the left, which shows observed and projected changes in fossil fuel carbon emissions. The graph on the right shows projections of direct damage to the U.S economy as a function of global temperature change. This damage includes impacts such as loss of crops due to excessive heat, loss of worker productivity due to extreme temperatures, and impacts to coastal development due to sea level rise. The dots and vertical lines show the result of the model and the uncertainty for that predicted value. The gray shaded area represents the 90

o A temperature change of 10°F will result in a loss of about 6

o Reducing fossil fuel carbon emissions by about 5GtC/yr by the end of the century will limit the rise in temperature to less than 2.5°F.

o The RCP2.6 scenario will result in the smallest losses to the U.S. economy.

o There is no way for the U.S to eliminate losses to the U.S economy due to climate change.

o Higher fossil fuel emissions will result in greater damage to the U.S. economy.
1) Supported
2) Not supported

Answer 1

Climate change, driven by increased CO2 emissions from fossil fuels, has profound implications for both the environment and the global economy, leading to damaging effects such as crop losses and infrastructure damage due to rising temperatures. Mitigation efforts include transitioning to renewable energy and protecting forests as carbon sinks. Immediate action is needed to reduce emissions and minimize economic damage.

Step-by-step explanation:

Understanding Climate Change and Economic Impact

Climate change is a critical issue with serious implications for the global economy and environmental sustainability. The increase in CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion has a direct relationship with the rise in global temperatures, altering the Earth's climate systems and leading to potentially catastrophic environmental and economic consequences. The current trajectory of CO2 emissions is likely to result in significant temperature increases, exacerbating problems such as loss of crops, reduced worker productivity, and coastal damage due to sea level rise.

Efforts to mitigate climate change focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, particularly by transitioning away from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Potential solutions also include reforestation and the protection of forests to act as carbon sinks. Without major changes to reduce emissions, projections indicate that economic damages will increase as temperatures rise, underscoring the critical need for immediate actions to address climate change and its far-reaching impacts.