Climate Experts Worry Global Heating to Soar Past 1.5C International Limit

Despite the international agreement to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius, a recent survey of hundreds of leading climate experts suggests that this goal is unlikely to be achieved. The respondents believed that meeting this target would require extraordinary, rapid, and radical action to halt and reverse the increasing emissions from fossil fuel burning. However, results show that only 6% of the surveyed experts thought it possible to reach the 1.5C limit.

Climate experts emphasize that giving up is not an option, as the consequences of climate change are already being felt and will continue to escalate incrementally. According to Prof Peter Cox of the University of Exeter, UK, “Climate change will not suddenly become dangerous at 1.5C – it already is – and it will not be ‘game over’ if we pass 2C, which we might well do.” The same expert highlights the need for continued cooperation and action, regardless of whether the 1.5C limit is achieved or not.

Another expert, Dr Henri Waisman from the IDDRI policy research institute in France, notes that climate change is not a binary issue with no middle ground. He believes that “every tenth of a degree matters a lot, especially when you look at the socioeconomic impacts.” This perspective underscores the importance of continued efforts to reduce emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change.

These findings are alarming, suggesting that the world is likely to experience more frequent and severe heatwaves, floods, and storms. However, experts remain determined to push forward, recognizing that every effort counts in reducing the suffering caused by climate change. The survey results serve as a wake-up call, emphasizing the urgent need for collective action to address this pressing global issue.

As the world grapples with the implications of climate change, it is essential to acknowledge that the damage is already being done and will continue to accelerate without swift and decisive action. The voices of climate experts, like Prof Cox and Dr Waisman, serve as a powerful reminder that giving up is not an option and that every action, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in the fight against climate change.