DN Debate: Extreme heat will not solve itself

Two climate scientists are urging immediate action on emissions, stating that extreme heatwaves are not a problem that will resolve itself. They argue against the notion that natural climate phenomena, such as a potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), could mitigate global warming.

The scientists highlight the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves globally, citing recent events in France and Britain, and noting that Sweden is also experiencing record temperatures. They point to reports of deaths linked to heatwaves in Europe and the ongoing drought conditions in Skåne, Sweden. This pattern, they contend, is the new normal in the ongoing climate crisis.

While acknowledging that most people accept human-caused greenhouse gas emissions as the root of climate change, the authors express concern that many still hope for a natural solution. They specifically address the idea that a collapse of the AMOC, sometimes referred to as the Gulf Stream, could cool the Northern Hemisphere, likening such hopes to a naive wish or a plot from a movie. They firmly state that such an event would not reverse global warming.

Drawing on their expertise as climate researchers who study past and future climate patterns, the scientists stress that there are no shortcuts to reducing emissions. They advocate for a clear understanding of the causes of climate change, referencing historical warnings from Svante Arrhenius in the 1890s and the early knowledge within the oil industry. Their message is a call for direct and decisive action to curb emissions.