The Guardian (May 25)
Recent research suggests “that even if carbon emissions are slashed to meet the internationally agreed target of 1.5C, sea level rises will become unmanageable during this century.” The “more ominous” fact, however, is “that even the existing 1.5C goal is moving out of reach.” Globally we are on course for “at least 2.5C of heating,” likely melting “the Greenland and west Antarctic ice sheets” and triggering “‘really dire’ sea level rise of around 12 metres.” Still, we are not helpless. “People will adapt to sea level rises in the future as they have in the past. This is not to deny or underplay the scale of the threat, but to stress the importance of preparing for changes which are now inevitable, as well as trying as hard as possible to avoid the worst-case scenarios.”
Tags: 1.5C, 12m, 2.5C, Adapt, Carbon emissions, Dire, Greenland, Ice sheets, Inevitable, Ominous, Preparing, Research, Sea level, Threat, Unmanageable, West Antarctic
BBC (May 17)
“There’s now a 66% chance we will pass the 1.5C global warming threshold between now and 2027. The chances are rising due to emissions from human activities and a likely El Niño weather pattern.” This would not necessarily mean that “the Paris limit had been broken,” especially if the temperature falls back under the threshold in subsequent years. “Scientists say there is still time to restrict global warming by cutting emissions sharply.”
Tags: 1.5C, 2027, Broken, El Niño, Emissions, Global warming, Human activities, Paris limit, Scientists, Temperature, Threshold, Weather pattern
Los Angeles Times (November 13)
“The key aim of COP26 was to ‘keep 1.5C alive.’ Despite pessimism among many heading into Glasgow, there is still reason to believe that’s possible. But only if the hard work begins now. We need to hold leaders accountable for their pledges and see to it that plans are carried out. Our future depends on it.”
