World heading for ‘irrevocable overshoot’ of global temperature thresholds, analysis warns
Failure to cut emissions will ‘consign humanity to disasters they are unable to adapt to’, report says
TL;DR
- Current policies project a 2.7C global temperature rise by the end of the century, exceeding the 1.5C threshold.
- This warming level smashes agreed-upon targets and will lead to intolerable climate impacts.
- Governments have stalled in cutting emissions, with some, like the US, Canada, and New Zealand, slowing climate action.
- Even fulfilling all country pledges would result in a 1.9C warming.
- Decisive action to slash emissions and phase out fossil fuels is urged by the UN secretary-general.
- Despite the grim outlook, there are causes for optimism, including doubled clean energy investment and soaring electric car use.
- Exceeding 1.5C warming should not lead to defeatism, as every increment of temperature rise is significant.