'Irreversible' environmental disasters loom as global temperatures rise, new study finds

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🗞️ Driving the news: A new study warns that even a temporary overshoot of the 1.5°C global warming limit could lead to irreversible consequences like rising sea levels and mass biodiversity loss
• Despite global commitments, emissions continue to rise, making the Paris Agreement target increasingly difficult to meet

🔭 The context: Scientists previously hoped the planet could cool back down after overshooting climate targets, but the study stresses that such overshoots would trigger long-term impacts, including permafrost thawing and sea level rises of 40 cm by 2300
• Political promises, such as those at COP28, often contrast with continued fossil fuel expansion

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Overshooting the 1.5°C limit could result in irreversible harm, including habitat destruction, extreme weather, and wildlife extinction
• It also amplifies the risk of hitting climate tipping points, like the collapse of the Amazon rainforest

⏭️ What's next: The study calls for immediate action to reduce emissions and scale up carbon dioxide removal technologies
• Countries are expected to update their climate plans in 2025, but the window for preventing irreversible damage is closing

💬 One quote: "Hoping to overshoot and then return to safer levels is delusional" – Joeri Rogelj, co-author of study

📈 One stat: Overshooting the 1.5°C target for 100 years could increase sea levels by 40 cm by 2300

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