HOW MUCH HAS INDUSTRIALIZATION ALREADY WARMED THE EARTH?

Before the Industrial Revolution began, the global average CO2 level was about 280 parts per million. By 2018 it was 407 ppm, an increase of 45%. Throughout that period the Earth has become warmer by approximately 1°C (1.8°F). Warming is now occurring at a measurably faster rate: The 20 warmest years have occurred during the past 22, and the World Meteorological Organization says that the trend continued in 2019. Researchers warn that we are fast approaching a tipping point (some put it at a 2°C or 3.6°F increase), which can set off a chain reaction that would make it impossible to reverse the dire changes to the climate.