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The world has just reached an alarming new milestone: average global temperatures in 2024 are o 1.55 °C higher as in the pre-industrial era. This figure, published this week by the European Climate Service Copernicus , represents the first ever crossing of the 1.5°C limit set by the Paris Agreement. This milestone is considered to be breaking point in the fight against climate change - this is a moment that can decide the future of our planet and which should act as to take stricter measures at the COP29 climate conference .
What does the tipping point mean for global temperature?
"It is a tipping point for global temperature," the Copernicus climate service said in a press release published this week. If we exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial values, we will reach the highest limits that can become irreversible and threaten many aspects of our planet - from natural ecosystems to the economy and human health. It is this tipping point that is leading scientists, climate activists and politicians to increase the urgency in the fight against climate change.
The temperature threshold of 1.5 °C is not just a symbolic goal. This limit has been set by scientists as the threshold beyond which the likely catastrophic climate change increases sharply. Exceeding this threshold signals that current efforts to mitigate climate change are unnecessary and that the world must focus not only on reducing emissions, but also on urgent adaptation to climate change.
Why is crossing the 1.5°C threshold a tipping point?
With an increased global temperature of more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, we are in danger of reaching the so-called climatic tipping points – irreversible changes in natural systems that can have catastrophic consequences. The most frequently discussed body fractures include:
- Decay of Arctic sea ice : Arctic sea ice extent lasts longer than warmer temperatures, exposing a dark ocean that absorbs more sunlight and warms even faster. This phenomenon causes accelerated melting of ice and contributes to the further increase of sea level ice.
- Melting of permafrost : In the northern regions of the planet, permafrost is breaking down - frozen soil that contains a huge amount of greenhouse gases, especially methane. By heating, these gases are released into the atmosphere, which further increases the temperature and increases global warming.
- Collapsing Amazon forest : The Amazon rainforest, which is one of the largest carbon reservoirs, may lose its ability to absorb CO₂ at higher rates and become a net producer of emissions. Destruction of the Amazon rainforest would reduce biodiversity, leading to the loss of habitat for many species.
Threat of disaster and call for immediate action
If the current warming trend continues, it is very likely that this tipping point for global temperatures will trigger a chain reaction that will have global and long-lasting consequences. Scientists warn that without immediate and consistent action, what awaits us disaster in the form of increasingly extreme manifestations of weather, drought, flooding, the destruction of ecosystems and unpredictable impacts on human society.
This milestone is not just another record, but a warning of the real risks of the climate crisis. It is intended to serve as a challenge to world leaders to step up their roles in climate policy. At the next COP29 climate conference in Baku, one of the reduced agenda items will be new targets to reduce and introduce more effective adaptation measures.
How can COP29 contribute to solving this crisis?
Exceeding the temperature threshold of 1.5 °C should motivate the country to take concrete measures and existing obligations at the COP29 conference. This conference represents an important opportunity to increase the financing of adaptation measures that regulate the most vulnerable countries that are preparing for the consequences of climate change.
At COP29, follow these simple steps:
- Increase in target emissions : Countries must meet the following risks to reduce current warming trends. This means, for example, increasing the share of renewable energy sources and limiting fossil fuels.
- Financing adaptation measures : Financing for developing countries is key to mitigating the impacts of climate change. COP29 should find commitments to provide financial and technical assistance to these countries.
- Support for natural solutions : Preserving forests, wetlands and other natural ecosystems can help absorb carbon from the atmosphere and slow global warming. Nature is one of the best ways to protect the environment while protecting emissions.
- Development of new technologies : Investing in technologies that enable capture and carbon, by helping to store emissions where they can be completely eliminated.
Conclusion: Crossing the tipping point as an opportunity for change
Exceeding the 1.5°C limit is not a numerical milestone – it is only a warning signal and a demand for action. This cost tipping point, that we are approaching a limit beyond which the return to a stable climate may be more difficult and costly. The world is at a crossroads: either we choose to act and move on, or we face a future that may affect the future of the planet.
As stated by the Copernicus service, the crossing of this limit was intended to serve as an effective response to the increase in load and the adoption of effective measures. COP29 is a unique opportunity for world leaders to take decisions that can reverse the current trend and ensure a sustainable future for the next generation. Spring
