Climate scientists expect to see catastrophic changes

November 1, 2021 - Nearly two thirds of respondents to a Nature survey of leading climate scientists are sceptical that nations can rein in global warming and expect the world to warm by at least 3°C by the end of the century.

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Nature magazine conducted an anonymous survey of the 233 living authors of the latest IPCC climate-science report, published in August this year, and received responses from 92 scientists – about 40% of the group.

Their answers suggest strong scepticism that governments will markedly slow the pace of global warming, despite promises made by global leaders in the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

60% of the respondents said that they expect the world will warm by at least 3°C by the end of the century, relative to pre-industrial times. 82% said they expected to see catastrophic impacts of climate change in their lifetimes, while more than 60% said that they experience anxiety, grief or other distress because of concerns over climate change.

The survey comes as the United Nations COP26 summit starts in Glasgow, billed as a make-or-break chance to save the planet from the most calamitous effects of climate change.