World moves past 1.5C climate goal with little hope for reversal
Global temperatures are set to exceed the 1.5C target established under the Paris Agreement, with 2024 projected to be the hottest year on record.
Oliver Milman reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- Current emission trends and insufficient global action make the 1.5C target, set on the Paris Agreement, unattainable, with catastrophic effects on ecosystems and human communities expected as temperatures rise further.
- Despite increased adoption of clean energy, peak emissions are not yet in sight, and climate tipping points loom closer.
- With 2024 on its way to being the hottest year on record since pre-industrial times, the past decade is set to become the hottest years ever recorded.
Key quote:
“The goal to avoid exceeding 1.5C is deader than a doornail. It’s almost impossible to avoid at this point because we’ve just waited too long to act.”
— Zeke Hausfather, climate research lead at Stripe and a research scientist at Berkeley Earth.
Why this matters:
Exceeding the 1.5C threshold accelerates risks of irreversible climate changes, such as polar ice collapse or rainforest destruction, intensifying threats to biodiversity, food security and global stability. Every fraction of a degree now could mean the difference between manageable challenges and catastrophic impacts.
Learn more: The world may miss the 1.5-degree climate target. How can we prevent catastrophic impacts?
