U.N. Says World Will Exceed Global Warming Limit
7 hours ago
A new United Nations report says the world is expected to exceed the key global warming limit established under the Paris climate agreement within the next few years.
The U.N. Environment Programme says global warming is approaching 1.4 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels and is now expected to surpass the 1.5-degree threshold. The limit was established as a goal to reduce the most severe impacts of climate change.
Scientists say the focus should now shift toward keeping the temperature increase as small and brief as possible before eventually bringing temperatures back below the threshold. The report outlines an “overshoot, peak and decline” strategy that would require major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions as well as removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
U.N. officials warn that even a temporary period above the limit could mean decades of increased extreme weather, rising sea levels, melting glaciers and damage to ecosystems. Some effects could continue even after global temperatures begin to decline.
The report stresses that additional warming still matters, with scientists saying limiting how far and how long temperatures remain above 1.5 degrees could reduce the severity of future impacts.
The U.N. Environment Programme says global warming is approaching 1.4 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels and is now expected to surpass the 1.5-degree threshold. The limit was established as a goal to reduce the most severe impacts of climate change.
Scientists say the focus should now shift toward keeping the temperature increase as small and brief as possible before eventually bringing temperatures back below the threshold. The report outlines an “overshoot, peak and decline” strategy that would require major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions as well as removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
U.N. officials warn that even a temporary period above the limit could mean decades of increased extreme weather, rising sea levels, melting glaciers and damage to ecosystems. Some effects could continue even after global temperatures begin to decline.
The report stresses that additional warming still matters, with scientists saying limiting how far and how long temperatures remain above 1.5 degrees could reduce the severity of future impacts.
