Climate risk begins with physics. The greenhouse effect traps outgoing infrared radiation; rising concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases shift the planet's energy balance and warm the surface over decades. Distinguishing weather (short-term, local) from climate (long-term, statistical) is the first discipline of the SCR syllabus.

The science is anchored in the carbon budget — the cumulative tonnes of CO₂ that can be emitted while keeping warming below a target such as 1.5°C or 2°C. Once the budget is spent, the temperature goal is missed regardless of later cuts, which is why timing of emissions matters as much as the total.

The IPCC assessment reports are the scientific reference base for the SCR exam — know that warming is unequivocally human-caused and roughly proportional to cumulative CO₂.

🌍 GARP SCR - Sustainability & Climate Risk