Heat waves, fires, floods and long periods of drought—in recent years, extreme weather events have become increasingly common in people’s lives. These are some of the effects of global warming, a condition defined as the increase in the average temperature of the planet as a result of human actions.

“The impact of global warming is being felt by everyone. Its effects have serious consequences for food security, impacting the entire global economy, with reduced productivity, increased public health costs and crop failures,” says Janaína Dallan, forestry engineer and president of Aliança Brasil NBS. Extreme weather events, such as the storms that recently affected Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and Hurricane Milton, in Florida, United States, are some examples of how climate change has been increasingly impacting our everyday lives.

What is global warming?

Global warming is a phenomenon that refers to the rise in the planet’s average temperature as a result of human activities that produce high emissions of greenhouse gases, resulting primarily from burning fossil fuels. The origin of this increase in emissions is linked to the Industrial Revolution, a period started with the invention of the steam engine, powered by coal, which led to the transition from manual to mechanized labor and large-scale economic production.

Over the decades, the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, natural gas and oil, has released polluting gases into the atmosphere, with carbon dioxide (CO2) being the main cause of global warming. Currently, it is estimated that the planet’s average temperature is 1.3ºC above pre-industrial levels, according to the Copernicus Institute.

What is the difference between global warming and greenhouse effect?

Greenhouse effect is a natural process that occurs on Earth to maintain an ideal temperature for the development of life and for the planet to be habitable. Gases found in the atmosphere (greenhouse gases) retain part of the sun’s infrared radiation, which is felt as heat, and radiate it back to the surface. This process is essential for maintaining ideal living conditions on the planet, but excessive emission of these gases has intensified this effect, leading to an increase in the planet’s average temperature and causing global warming.

What are the causes of global warming?

There are many causes associated with global warming, linked to all sectors of the economy. According to the United Nations (UN), energy generation is still the main source of emissions of polluting gas. The burning of coal, oil and natural gas accounts for approximately 75% of all global emissions, as well as to 90% of carbon dioxide emissions.

In Brazil, for instance, according to the Climate Observatory (OC), the main source of emissions is deforestation, which accounts for approximately 49% of the country’s total. Next, agricultural activities account for 25% of emissions, the energy sector accounts for 18%, and industrial processes and waste generation account for 4% each.

What are the effects of global warming?

The effects of our planet being increasingly warm are felt differently in different parts of the world. One important parameter is the Arctic sea ice cover, which has been shrinking over the years. According to a study published in the journal Nature Communications, the ice cover in the region in the summer could potentially disappear as early as 2030 and, even with emissions cuts, the Artic could be ice-free in summer starting in the 2050s.

In addition to the impact on the Arctic region, global warming is also causing glaciers to melt. As a result, sea levels are rising, putting coastal cities and communities at risk—small island nations in the Pacific, for example, are at risk of completely disappearing.

Heat waves, prolonged droughts, storms, floods and other extreme events are becoming more frequent and intense. As the planet’s temperature rises, some regions will become uninhabitable, while others will need to be reorganized to adapt to new climate patterns.

How does global warming affect our lives?

According to the European observation program Copernicus, the summer of 2024 in the Northern Hemisphere (July and August) was the hottest on record. In the Southern Hemisphere, several heat waves hit different regions of Brazil during 2024. Extreme heat puts the health of the population at risk, especially the elderly and children, causing dehydration, heart problems, respiratory diseases and mental health issues.

Additionally, events such as the floods that hit Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in April 2024 and Central Europe in September 2024, highlighted the impact of environmental disasters on all sectors of society—including the flooding of streets and homes, the destruction of businesses and the closure of airports.

Companies, governments and individuals can take action to help fight climate change and build a better future. Check out the article How to Fight Global Warming to learn how you can do your part.

Suzano has initiatives to tackle the climate crisis. Click here to learn more on the Climate page of this website.