UN: Keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees is still possible, but the challenge is enormous
Global warming can still remain below 1.5 degrees Celsius. But countries will have to take many additional measures, on top of their current plans. This is the conclusion of a group of scientists in the United Nations Emissions Gap Report.
The report, which is partly financed by the Dutch government, is published annually in the run-up to the UN climate summit. Next month, the summit will take place in the Azerbaijani capital Baku.
At the end of 2015, more than 200 countries agreed in the Paris climate agreement to keep global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius, and preferably below 1.5 degrees, compared to the period before 1900.
Although it is still technically possible to achieve these goals, the researchers conclude that this scenario is far removed from current developments. Without new policy, the world would warm up by 3.1 degrees Celsius. If countries implement all their current plans, warming would decrease to around 2.8 and possibly even 2.6 degrees.
