Key Highlights from the WMO Report on Earth's Heat Budget

According to the report, the global average temperature in 2022 was 1.15°C higher than the average during the preindustrial reference period (1850-1900).

• Understanding the Earth's heat inventory is crucial in assessing the impact of the planet's energy imbalance on the climate system.
• A recent study has presented a comprehensive inventory that covers the years 1960–2020.

Further Reading: Global warming likely to exceed 1.5 °C

Explaining the Concept of Earth's Energy Imbalance

Earth Energy Imbalance (EEI) refers to the condition when the difference between incoming solar radiation and outgoing radiation exceeds zero.

• Human activities, particularly the emission of greenhouse gases , are responsible for the Earth's energy imbalance.
• The surplus energy in the climate system (comprising the atmosphere, land, hydrosphere, cryosphere, and biosphere) gets accumulated as heat.

Impact of the Imbalance

• Global warming has adverse effects on both humans and the environment, with coastal residents bearing the brunt of its impact.
• The rising sea levels, primarily due to ocean thermal expansion and the melting of glaciers and ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland, increase the risk of coastal flooding.
• Global warming also poses a threat to our physical health as extreme weather events like cyclones and storms can have traumatic effects.
• Changes in climate variables, such as droughts, can create uncertainty and anxiety about climate change.
• This suggests that the imbalance in the climate system can lead to personal imbalance.

Steps Towards a Solution

• To address the Earth's energy imbalance caused by human activity, emissions need to be reduced to zero. As long as there's an energy imbalance, the Earth will continue to warm.
• We can decrease our impact on climate change by adopting active transportation (like cycling and walking), reducing our consumption of meat and dairy products, minimizing food waste, and improving the energy efficiency of our homes.
• The ocean plays a vital role in managing the climate as it absorbs excess heat and acts as a significant CO2 sink. However, if total gas emissions increase, the ocean's ability to absorb CO2 will diminish.

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