UNEP: Opportunity has ‘been lost’ to meet 1.5C warming limit without ‘overshoot’
A temporary breach of the 1.5C global-warming limit is now “inevitable” following “decades of insufficient climate action”, says the UN… The post UNEP: Opportunity has ‘been lost’ to meet 1.5C warming limit without ‘overshoot’ appeared first on Carbon Brief.
The UN Environment Programme's (UNEP) latest assessment is a stark reminder of the consequences of inaction on climate change. The opportunity to limit global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels without exceeding it has been lost, according to UNEP. This is a significant development, as the 1.5C target was considered a critical threshold for avoiding the most catastrophic effects of climate change.
The implications of this "overshoot" are far-reaching. A temporary breach of the 1.5C limit will still have devastating consequences, including more frequent and severe heatwaves, droughts, and storms. The climate crisis will continue to intensify, with rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and disrupted ecosystems. The fact that this outcome was avoidable, but is now inevitable, underscores the need for urgent and drastic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
As the world prepares for COP28, all eyes will be on the level of ambition displayed by countries in reducing their emissions. The next critical test will be the Global Stocktake, which will assess countries' progress toward meeting their Paris Agreement goals. Will countries demonstrate a willingness to rapidly scale up their climate action, or will they continue to delay and risk catastrophic consequences? The world is watching, and the clock is ticking.
Originally reported by carbonbrief.org. ClimateNews adds analysis for climate & energy readers.