The global warming It is one of the most pressing issues on the scientific, political, and economic agenda of the 21st century. Far beyond an abstract concept, it is a measurable phenomenon with identified causes and consequences that are already being felt in different parts of the world, including Brazil.
What does global warming mean?
The global warming it's about an increase in the planet's average temperatures above levels considered normal, taking pre-industrialization levels as a reference.. This is, in essence, the intensification of the greenhouse effect due to human activity.
Accelerating the process of Earth's warming It intensified from the second half of the 1970s, and the last ten years have recorded the highest temperatures since the beginning of systematic measurements.
The seriousness of the situation led the then UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, to coin the term in 2023“global boiling“"This is a way of signaling that the phenomenon has gone beyond what was previously called mere warming.".
Global warming and the greenhouse effect: distinct concepts.
It is common for the two terms to be used synonymously, but there is an important distinction between them.
The greenhouse effect is a natural and necessary phenomenonPart of the solar heat that reaches the Earth's surface is trapped in the atmosphere by gases such as water vapor, CO₂, and methane, which makes the planet habitable. Without it, average global temperatures would be incompatible with life as we know it.
The global warming, in turn, is the result of imbalance caused by human actionThe increased concentration of these gases in the atmosphere intensifies heat retention beyond natural levels, progressively and harmfully raising average global temperatures.
What are the causes of global warming?
The historical landmark is the First Industrial Revolution, in the 19th century, when the burning of fossil fuels and the intensive exploitation of the environment began to release increasing volumes of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere.
The main anthropogenic sources of emissions include:
- Burning fossil fuels — petroleum, coal, and natural gas, used in transportation, industry, and electricity generation;
- Logging — Removing vegetation cover releases carbon stored in biomass and eliminates natural CO₂ sinks;
- Wildfires — often associated with opening up areas for agriculture and livestock farming, they amplify carbon emissions;
- Livestock farming — Large-scale animal farming is one of the main sources of methane (CH₄);
- Destruction of the ozone layer The emission of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) compromises the stratosphere's ability to filter ultraviolet radiation, accelerating warming.
What are the consequences of global warming?
The projections that the scientific community has been debating since the 1970s are, to a large extent, being confirmed. The main consequences already observed or projected include:
- Changes in global climate patterns, with greater frequency and intensity of extreme events: prolonged droughts, torrential rains, heat waves;
- Melting of glaciers and polar ice caps, resulting in a rise in ocean levels;
- Ocean warming and acidification, affecting marine ecosystems;
- Loss of biodiversity, as species are unable to adapt to the new climatic conditions;
- Threats to food security, with impacts on agricultural production;
- Increase in diseases associated with heat, pollution and changes in the hydrological cycle;
- Climate migration flows, with entire populations forced to relocate due to extreme weather events.
Global warming in Brazil
Brazil is among the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases (along with China, the United States, and Japan), mainly due to deforestation and agricultural activity. Deforestation, especially in the Amazon, has been the main source of national emissions in recent years.
At the same time, the country occupies a unique position in international climate negotiationsPossessing one of the world's largest natural heritages, Brazil is simultaneously part of the problem and a potential protagonist in the solutions, especially in forest restoration initiatives., bioeconomy and reduced emissions from avoided deforestation (REDD+).
Climate agreements and global goals
The international response to global warming It has been structured through multilateral agreements, the most relevant milestones of which are:
- Montreal Protocol (1987) — aimed at eliminating CFCs and protecting the ozone layer;
- Kyoto Protocol (1997) — the first treaty with binding emission reduction targets for developed countries;
- Paris Agreement (2015) — establishes as a global goal limiting warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, with nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
According to the IPCC, without concrete and immediate action, the 1.5°C limit could be reached as early as the 2040s, a level that science considers close to the point of no return.
What can be done to curb global warming?
Mitigate global warming It requires structural changes on multiple fronts:
- Energy transition — replacing fossil fuels with renewable sources, both in electricity generation and transportation;
- Agriculture and land use — adoption of lower-impact production practices and restoration of degraded areas;
- Reforestation and forest restoration — expansion of natural carbon sinks;
- Regulation and oversight Strengthening control mechanisms against illegal deforestation and industrial pollution;
- Environmental education — building a less carbon-intensive culture of consumption and mobility.
Putting solutions into practice: the role of climate finance
Knowing the strategies is the starting point. But creating projects of mitigation and climate adaptation Combining technical rigor and financial viability is another challenge, and it's where many organizations and companies encounter real difficulties.
THE Sitawi Finances for Good We operate at the intersection of climate impact and financial structuring. We support organizations and companies that wish to develop climate projects with strong governance and measurable impact, through nature-based solutions, climate finance instruments, and impact investment models.
