The Heat Is On: Climate Change, Integral Ecology and Development | By Fr. Joel Thompson, SJ

Fr. Joel Thompson, SJ, wrote that the United Nations Environment Programme warned on 21 October that the world will likely exceed the internationally agreed warming limit of 1.5°C. Thompson noted that the World Meteorological Organization confirmed the years 2015 through 2025 were the eleven warmest years on record, with 2024 being the hottest.

Thompson stated that human activities, specifically the burning and processing of coal, oil, and gas, cause long-term warming. He noted that Guyana's growing oil industry is part of this global trend. He reported that climate change is increasing the frequency of heat, droughts, and heavy rainfall, which affects rural and Indigenous communities that depend on the land for food.

The article also noted that the oceans are becoming more acidic due to the absorption of carbon dioxide. Thompson said that the world recorded an annual average temperature approximately 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels in 2024.