Research suggests that extreme weather will rapidly intensify over the next two decades

Nearly three-quarters of the world's population can expect strong and rapid changes in extreme temperatures and precipitation over the next 20 years unless greenhouse gas emissions are significantly reduced, according to a new study.

Research led by scientists from the CICERO Center for International Climate Research and supported by the University of Reading shows that 20 % of the population could face extreme weather risks if emissions were reduced enough to meet the Paris Agreement targets, compared to 70 %, if limited measures are taken.

A document published in a journal Nature Geoscience shows how global warming can combine with normal weather changes to create decades-long periods of very rapid changes in extreme temperatures and precipitation. (University of Reading, more at phys.org)