Anthropogenic climate change is causing the average global temperature to rise at an increasingly fast rate. In the Paris Agreement, countries agreed to limit average global warming to 1.5°C if possible. Ten years after the Paris Agreement, this paper discusses whether we can still manage to stay below this limit.
It explains the significance of the 1.5°C limit and the consequences of permanently exceeding it. It also covers the scientific and political debates surrounding concepts such as overshoot, CO₂ withdrawal and CCS (carbon capture and storage). It demonstrates that the 1.5°C limit is not merely a technical objective for climate change mitigation, but rather a commitment to prioritising human security and preserving global livelihoods. Lastly, it considers the necessary next steps.
With financial support from Brot für die Welt. Sole responsibility for the content lies with Germanwatch.
