When we talk about climate change, one number is often mentioned: +1.1°C compared to pre-industrial levels.
It is correct. But it is also misleading, if taken alone.
That figure is a global average. And like all averages, it hides what really matters: the differences.
Global warming is not uniform. It does not occur evenly across regions, nor over time. Some areas are warming much faster than others, and this fundamentally changes how we should interpret the phenomenon.
The most evident example is the Arctic.
According to the IPCC, the Arctic is warming at a rate more than three times faster than the global average. This phenomenon, known as Arctic amplification, is mainly driven by the loss of sea ice. Ice reflects solar radiation; when it melts, it exposes darker ocean surfaces that absorb more heat, further accelerating warming.
But the consequences are not limited to polar regions.
This uneven warming alters temperature gradients between latitudes, affecting atmospheric circulation. In particular, the jet stream can become more unstable, increasing the likelihood of extreme events at mid-latitudes: heatwaves, heavy rainfall, and prolonged droughts.
There is also a critical difference between land and oceans.
Land surfaces warm faster than oceans. This means that the regions where we live, build infrastructure, and produce energy are experiencing stronger and faster impacts than the global average suggests.
And this is not just about temperature.
Climate change is reshaping:
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the hydrological cycle
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precipitation patterns
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the frequency and intensity of extreme events
Some regions are becoming drier, others are facing more intense and concentrated rainfall. The overall result is a more unstable and less predictable system.
This non-uniformity has direct implications for the energy system.
A more variable climate means:
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higher uncertainty in renewable generation
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increased stress on infrastructure
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higher operational risks
A solar or wind plant does not produce energy based only on installed capacity, but also on local climate conditions. When those conditions change, the production profile changes as well.
In other words: climate change is not just an environmental issue.
It is a system-level issue.
And ignoring its uneven distribution means underestimating both risks and opportunities.
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