Climate Change Toolkit for Health Professionals Factsheet: Climate Change – Science, Drivers & Commitments

The document details the role of human activity in increasing atmospheric CO2 and the resulting global temperature rise, which reached 1oC above pre-industrial levels by 2017. It compares the projected impacts of 1.5oC and 2oC warming, noting that 2oC would expose over one third of the world's population to severe heatwaves and increase water stress by 50%. To limit warming to 1.5oC, the text argues for a 45% reduction in emissions from 2010 levels by 2030 and a transition to net zero by 2050. While the Paris Agreement establishes a framework for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the document states that current targets are insufficient and would likely lead to 3oC of warming by 2100.

• Human activities have released approximately 2,220 gigatons of carbon dioxide since pre-industrial times, causing atmospheric concentrations to rise from 315 to 410 parts per million within 60 years. The primary economic drivers are electricity and heat production (25%), agriculture, forestry and other land use (24%), industry (21%), and transport (14%).
• At current emission rates, global warming is projected to reach 1.5oC by 2040. A 1.5oC increase is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of hot days, nights, heavy precipitation, and tropical cyclones, while decimating 70% to 90% of warm water coral reefs.
• A 2oC warming scenario would significantly worsen impacts compared to 1.5oC, including exposing more than one third of the global population to severe heatwaves at least every five years, increasing water stress by 50%, and impacting an additional 10.4 million people through rising sea levels.
• To limit warming to 1.5oC, annual CO2 emissions must be reduced by 25 to 30 Gt CO2eq per year by 2030 (a 45% reduction from 2010 levels) to reach net zero by 2050. This requires renewable energy to provide 52% to 67% of primary electricity by 2050 and significant reductions in oil and gas usage.
• The Paris Agreement commits nations to keeping warming well below 2oC, with an ambition of 1.5oC by 2100. However, current Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets are insufficient and would likely result in 3oC of warming by 2100.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (n.d.). Climate Change Toolkit for Health Professionals Factsheet: Climate Change – Science, Drivers & Commitments. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Module-1-FACTSHEET-TO-UPLOAD.pdf#new_tab

Chicago

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Climate Change Toolkit for Health Professionals Factsheet: Climate Change – Science, Drivers & Commitments. n.d. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Module-1-FACTSHEET-TO-UPLOAD.pdf#new_tab.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=Climate Change Toolkit for Health Professionals Factsheet: Climate Change – Science, Drivers & Commitments |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Module-1-FACTSHEET-TO-UPLOAD.pdf#new_tab |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironmentndclimate, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{Climate Change Toolkit for Health Professionals Factsheet: Climate Change – Science, Drivers \& Commitments}}, institution = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Module-1-FACTSHEET-TO-UPLOAD.pdf#new_tab}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }