The Paris Agreement signed by nations in 2015 aimed to limit the global average temperature rise to below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. However, despite commitments and pledges to reduce emissions, scientists believe that average temperatures could exceed 2°C of pre-industrial levels by 2100. The World Meteorological Organisation predicts that we will exceed 1.5°C by 2024.
This ‘The Economist‘ article highlights the effects a difference of even a few tenths of a degree would have on the globe. A 1.5°C increase would still mean that catastrophic climate and weather events currently happening today could become worse. Sea levels will rise by as much as 80 cm, enough to inundate the Maldives. A 2°C could lead to a 90cm sea rise by 2100, threatening low-lying countries like Bangladesh. Over 400m extra people could be affected by extreme heat. A rise of over 2°C would affect ocean systems and disrupt regional weather patterns and vegetation, with rainforests turned to savannahs leading to decreased arable farmland.