October 31, 2023 | Earth.org |
A new study published in the journal Nature indicates that the pace at which human fossil fuel emissions are threatening the critical climate threshold of limiting global warming below 1.5°C is twice as fast as previously estimated. The research suggests that humanity has only six years left to achieve net-zero emissions and stay within the 1.5°C target. If current emission levels persist, we can emit another 250 gigatonnes of CO2 for a 50-50 chance to reach the 1.5°C limit in six years, instead of the mid-2030s as previously predicted. Carbon dioxide, a major contributor to global warming, has seen unprecedented levels, with atmospheric CO2 reaching 424 parts per million in May. The study's findings underscore the urgency for global action to curb emissions ahead of the upcoming UN climate summit, COP28, in Dubai.
