Independent analyses by NASA and NOAA confirm that Earth's global surface temperatures in 2019 ranked as the second-warmest since 1880. Temperatures were 2°F (1.1°C) warmer than the late 19th century, second only to 2016.

This data continues the planet's long-term warming trend, with the five warmest years on instrumental record all occurring in the last five years. More information is available at NASA's press release.

While the public now grasps the serious threat of global warming, a clear path forward remains elusive. Drawing from his book, *Under the Influence: Putting Peer Pressure to Work*, Robert Frank proposes that leveraging behavioral contagion can make addressing climate change less daunting than many believe.

Robert H. Frank is the Henrietta Johnson Louis Professor of Management and Professor of Economics at Cornell's Johnson Graduate School of Management. He previously wrote the "Economic View" column for *The New York Times*.

Explore more content from the UC Public Policy Channel.

Earth's average surface temperature in 2024 was the warmest on record.

This finding comes from an analysis led by NASA scientists.

Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac outline two distinct futures for 2050: one if we fail to meet Paris Agreement climate targets, and another if we achieve a carbon-neutral, regenerative world. They emphasize that immediate action is crucial to address our climate emergency, presenting this as our final, defining choice.

Figueres, a Costa Rican diplomat with 35 years of experience, served as Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change from July 2010. Her extensive background highlights the urgency of this pivotal moment.

Source: The RSA, March 4, 2020.

Professor Stefan Rahmstorf recently delivered a compelling lecture titled "Why the Ocean is Important to Everyone."

His presentation underscored the critical role marine ecosystems play in influencing global climate, weather patterns, and biodiversity. Rahmstorf highlighted the ocean's vital importance for sustaining both human well-being and the planet's overall health, emphasizing the urgent need for conservation.

Join us for an online talk with acclaimed environmental journalist Eugene Linden, author of nine non-fiction books. He will discuss his new book, *Fire and Flood*, which examines how business interests have historically obscured scientific warnings and hindered climate action. Linden, whose *Winds of Change* won the Grantham Prize, previously covered environmental issues for *Time*.

In *Fire and Flood*, Linden reveals how big money prioritizes short-term profits over long-term threats. He details the insurance industry's dramatic shift, now retreating from high-risk regions like Florida and California due to unmanageable fire and flood risks. This signals a broader business awakening to the urgent need for rapid climate action as long-term consequences become immediate.

Join B Corp climate consultants for a practical workshop on achieving Net Zero. This session will guide companies through setting goals, scoping emissions, and effective carbon offsetting strategies.

Speakers: Emily Waffler (South Pole), David Jaber (Climate Positive Consulting), Reed Shapiro (South Pole), and Anna Sampson (We Are Neutral).

NASA reported that Earth's average surface temperature in 2022 tied with 2015 as the fifth warmest on record, continuing the planet's long-term warming trend.

Global temperatures were 1.6 degrees Fahrenheit (0.89 degrees Celsius) above the 1951-1980 baseline average, according to scientists from NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS).