The IPCC finally released its long-awaited report on how global warming will change our planet in the coming decades. It is the most comprehensive analysis on climate change to the date.

It provides a chronological account of climate change and show the main manifestations of this phenomena that can be tangibly seen all around the world, and which are attributable to human activity. According to the report, the increase of greenhouse gases (hereinafter "GHGs") in the atmosphere has been the main driver of global warming. In the last 20 years, surface temperatures have been almost one degree higher than between 1850 and 1900.

By means of a chronological causality comparison between the evident increase in the average surface temperature of the planet and the concentration of CO2 emissions from human activities, a causal and consequential connection is established:

Thus, IPCC experts state that, in 2019, atmospheric CO2 concentrations were higher than at any time in the last 2 million years and CH4 and N2O concentrations were higher than in the last 800,000 years. Therefore, if emissions are not controlled, the planet may face the risk of reaching 1.5°C in one or two decades, which will bring multiple risk factors such as: rising ocean levels, extreme heat waves, extreme droughts, rains with flooding potential, among other natural events, to the point of reaching critical tolerance levels for health.

The report states that with almost absolute certainty that extreme heat waves have become more frequent and intense since 1950, while extreme cold temperatures have become less frequent and less severe. States also that such changes would not have occurred without direct human intervention.

As a particular note, they exemplify the small but notable decrease in Co2 emitted during the pandemic caused by covid-19. In particular, they attribute this decrease to mandatory insulation measures and the reduction of human industrial activities, among others.

Even though the report presents a catastrophic scenario, it shows that there is still time to implement strong, large-scale measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is the only way in which we will be able to contain the advance of this global climate crisis.