Quick action needed as the world is set to get hotter than we hoped
Global temperature rise is set to cross 1.5°C, likely within the next few years, pushing climate risks and impacts to increasingly dangerous heights. But it is still possible to bring temperatures down and achieve the global goals of the Paris Agreement, according to a new UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report.
The world is poised to surpass the 1.5°C temperature threshold set by the Paris Agreement, according to a new United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report. This critical limit, scientists say, is vital to preventing the worst climate devastation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the world is not on track to meet this goal and must make the overshoot as small and short as possible.
To achieve this, the report proposes an "overshoot, peak and decline" pathway, which emphasizes accelerating the phaseout of fossil fuels, slashing methane pollution, and protecting land, forests, and oceans. Carefully governed carbon dioxide removal (CDR) would be an essential part of the mix, with net-negative emissions brought about through long-term reductions. Adaptation actions are also crucial to reduce vulnerability to current and future climate impacts.
Despite the report's dire warnings, there is still a path to minimize the magnitude and duration of the overshoot and return temperatures below 1.5°C as soon as possible. However, the risks and impacts of climate change will intensify with every additional fraction of a degree, leading to more frequent and severe extreme weather, ecosystem loss, and disruptions to human health, food security, water supplies, and economies.
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