The article warns that the planet has only two years left in its carbon budget to meet the 1.5°C target for global warming, given current emission rates. Continuing to exceed this limit is expected to worsen extreme weather events that have already impacted communities globally. To maintain a 66% chance of staying below 1.5°C, emissions must be reduced to 8 billion tonnes of CO2 by 2025, an 80% decrease from 2020 levels. However, emissions reached a record high in 2024 and are projected to rise further.
Scientists emphasize that substantial reductions in emissions are urgently needed to avoid catastrophic climate outcomes, with current trends suggesting a potential rise of 2.7°C. The remaining carbon budget for a 66% chance of limiting warming to 1.7°C is approximately 39 billion tonnes, equating to about nine years at current rates.
The article highlights the rapid decline of the carbon budget, primarily due to global inaction on CO2 emissions. Experts stress that every fraction of a degree of warming increases human suffering, advocating for immediate climate action, particularly at the upcoming UN COP30 Climate Summit. Despite some progress in renewable energy, the rapid increase in energy demand continues to exacerbate the climate crisis, leading to unprecedented changes and higher rates of sea-level rise.
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