The planet could hit 1.5 °C of warming inside the next five years
Forecasts suggest that by 2022 there's an outside chance we'll experience temperatures that exceed a target of the Paris climate agreement.
Warming as usual: The Met Office, the UK's weather and climate forecasting organization, says its latest forecasts suggest that annual global average temperatures are likely to exceed 1 °C above preindustrial levels over the next five years.
A troubling outlier: The forecasts also give a 10 percent chance at least one of the next five years will see a global average temperature 1.5 °C above preindustrial levels. Such an occurrence is likely to coincide with an El Niño weather event.
Why it matters: The Paris agreement aims to limit average global temperature rises to less than 2 °C, or ideally 1.5 °C, above preindustrial levels. At temperatures higher than that, effects like rising seas, drought, and extreme weather will be pronounced. A blip above 1.5 °C isn’t too troubling in isolation—but the Met Office warns that continued carbon dioxide emissions will tip it from a one-off to a more regular occurrence.
Deep Dive
Climate change and energy
The problem with plug-in hybrids? Their drivers.
Plug-in hybrids are often sold as a transition to EVs, but new data from Europe shows we’re still underestimating the emissions they produce.
Harvard has halted its long-planned atmospheric geoengineering experiment
The decision follows years of controversy and the departure of one of the program’s key researchers.
Why hydrogen is losing the race to power cleaner cars
Batteries are dominating zero-emissions vehicles, and the fuel has better uses elsewhere.
Decarbonizing production of energy is a quick win
Clean technologies, including carbon management platforms, enable the global energy industry to play a crucial role in the transition to net zero.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.