Earth's temperature is expected to rise 2.8-3.2°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100, given current polices [1][2]. This will lead to climate changes including rising sea levels and droughts that will likely cost 20% of world GDP [7][8].
Warming is caused by CO2 emissions - which continue to rise, driven by growing economies in Asia[3]. 73.2% of emissions come from electricity, heat, and transport[4].
Advances in low-carbon energy (16% of energy)[5][6], electric vehicles (3% of new sales)[9], bio-fuels, carbon-capture, and efficiency have the potential to reduce emissions sufficiently to limit warming, but require greater incentives if they are to expand fast enough to do so.
The Paris Agreement has been signed by countries responsible for 97% of emissions (after the US rejoined)[11], and commits them to take actions that would limit warming to below 2°C. However most countries are not currently on track to meet their commitments[10].
Climate Change skeptics argue that the cost of mitigation exceeds the cost of climate change, and that it is being over-hyped by social elites order to justify greater central control over the rest of the population.