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.
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?
