Global Temperature: How close are we to 1.5°C?

Climate change represents an urgent and potentially irreversible threat to human societies and the planet. In recognition of this, the overwhelming majority of countries around the world adopted the Paris Agreement in December 2015, the central aim of which includes pursuing efforts to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C. Cancun Agreement, adopted at the sixteenth edition of COP16 in 2010. The first United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) document to mention a limit to global warming of 1.5°C. The first instrument of its kind, the landmark agreement includes the aim to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by ‘holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels’ during COP21, in December 2015). The definition of the Long Term Global Goal (LTGG) in the Cancun Agreement was "to hold the increase in global average temperature below 2°C above pre-industrial levels". The agreement also recognized the need to consider "strengthening the long-term global goal on the basis of the best available scientific knowledge to a global average temperature rise of 1.5°C". How close are we to 1.5 °C - The combination of rising exposure to climate change and the fact that there is a limited capacity to adapt to its impacts amplifies the risks posed by warming of 1.5°C and 2°C. This is particularly true for developing, island countries in the tropics and other vulnerable areas. The risks posed by global warming at 1.5°C are greater than present-day conditions but lower than at 2°C. In the decade 2006–2015, warming reached 0.87°C (±0.12°C) 1 relative to 1850–1900, predominantly due to human activity increasing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Some relevant events in the history of international climate negotiations reveal that Global average temperatures should not exceed 2 degrees Celsius above pre- industrial level (1996) EU Environmental Council conclusion. Strengthen the long term global goal (2°C) on the best available scientific knowledge, including in relation to a global average temperature rise of 1.5°C. Holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. We should also speak up, power our communities with renewable energy, weatherize, and reduce water waste etc. The science, models and action scenarios are developed that give the power to make a real impact in reversing the emissions trend and ending the crisis. But first we have to break up the mind-set that we can’t make much difference. We can, if enough of us take the right actions, bridge the 2030 emissions gap so that we can not only contain the damage already done but begin to clean it up.