Global Warming

Umwelt-Indikator

Indicator: Global surface temperature

A graph shows the deviation of the global air temperature between 1850 and 2023 from the average global air temperature from 1850 to 1900, which is taken as the baseline period. 2023 was 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than the baseline average.

2023 was the warmest year worldwide since records began 1850.The last nine years have been the warmest years worldwide since 1850.The Paris Agreement stipulates that the increase in global temperature should be limited to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels, and even to 1.5 °C. Due to historical data availability, the comparative period used by WMO for this purpose is 1850 to 1900. read more

Water

Floods - how they form and how we influence them

Flooded elbe river near Dessau

Floods are natural events, they form on a regular basis and are an integral part of the water cycle. The occurrence of floods depends on the strength of precipitation, the characteristics of the catchment area and the morphology of the river itself. Humans can influence and intensify floods, their course and effects. read more

Water

Identifying and managing flood risks

Comprehensive and river basin-wide management is needed to deal with floods.

Managing the hazards and risks posed by floods includes precautionary measures, preparation for a flood, hazard prevention during an event and post-event management, including reconstruction. The uniform application of flood risk management has been ensured in the EU-Flood Risk Management Directive since 2007. read more

News on Climate | Energy and Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Aligning EU Climate Policy with the Paris Agreement

Planet Earth

According to the IPCC, global warming must be limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius in order to mitigate the risks. An UBA position paper outlines how the EU climate policy could be aligned with this goal. Already by 2020, the parties to the Paris Agreement are to submit their updated national climate contribution to limit global warming. Up to now, far less has been promised than would be necessary. read more

News on Climate | Energy

Climate action: how to reduce emissions even before 2020

wind energy plants on a field

The international community resolved to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. The mitigation activities proposed by the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change will not be enough to achieve that goal. An UBA report shows how the gap can be narrowed even before 2020, for example with more efficient electrical appliances and through renewable energy support. read more

The Umweltbundesamt

For our environment