'Irreversible' environmental disasters loom as global temperatures rise, new study finds
A major study published on Wednesday warns that even temporarily exceeding the 1.5°C global warming limit could lead to irreversible consequences, including rising sea levels and mass biodiversity loss. With global emissions still rising, scientists stress that hopes of reversing climate overshoot without drastic action are dangerously misguided.
For years, scientists have held onto the hope that even if global temperatures temporarily exceed climate targets, the planet could eventually cool back down. However, a major academic study released on Wednesday has cast doubt on that idea.
The report highlights the dangers of "climate overshoot"– a temporary breach of the 1.5°C warming limit set in the 2015 Paris Agreement. While world leaders have committed to keeping the global temperature increase below 1.5°C, emissions continue to rise, making this goal increasingly difficult to achieve.
The study emphasises that even a brief overshoot could lead to long-term impacts, including rising sea levels and other lasting effects that may persist for thousands of years.
At the 2015 Paris Agreement, several strategies were agreed upon in order to meet climate goals, such as halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Yet, these pledges have not been matched by action, and the idea of overshoot has even been embraced by some world leaders as a fallback plan.
False promises
At the 2023 climate negotiations in Dubai, COP 28 President Sultan Al Jaber promised to uphold the 1.5°C goal, stating the United Arab Emirates was guided by a "deep sense of urgency".
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