Global warming will likely exceed the most ambitious target set by the Paris climate agreement by around 2040, according to a draft United Nations (UN) report. In its strongest warning yet about the dangers of climate change, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned that only “rapid and far-reaching” changes to the world economy would prevent temperatures from rising 1.5C above pre-industrial times. The report was obtained by Reuters, ahead of the publication of the final version in October after it has been revised and approved by governments. Campaigners say “the moment of truth” has come for world leaders, who will have to take quick and decisive action in order to avoid the most harmful effects of climate change. “If emissions continue at their present rate, human-induced warming will exceed 1.5C by around 2040,” according to the report, which broadly reaffirms findings in an earlier draft in January but is more robust, after 25,000 comments from experts and a wider pool of scientific literature. The Paris climate agreement, adopted by almost 200 nations in 2015, set a goal of limiting warming to “well below” a rise of 2C above pre-industrial times while “pursuing efforts” for the tougher 1.5C goal. Scientists broadly agree that a 1.5C goal is required to avoid many of the most destructive effects of climate change.
Independent 15th June 2018 read more »
