Global Carbon Emission Levels Projected to Surpass Safe Threshold by 2030, Accelerating Climate Change Impact

New study dramatically reduces remaining carbon budget to avert climate catastrophe, necessitating urgent global action to achieve net zero emissions in just six years.

• Researchers recommend urgent global action to achieve net zero emissions in six years, to limit global warming to 1.5°C, as per the remaining carbon budget of 250 gigatonnes (billion metric tonnes) of CO₂ calculated in a new study.
• The global level of emissions is presently 40 gigatonnes of CO₂ per year. If emissions continue at this pace, according to the revised Carbon budget, we may surpass the safe temperature threshold far sooner than anticipated.
• The researchers revised the remaining carbon budget down from last recorded 500 gigatonnes by IPCC in 2020, due to timing and other factors including reductions in cooling aerosols.
• If current national climate policies are fully implemented, this may be enough to hold warming below 2°C. However, the risks of triggering additional climate tipping points increase with increased warming.
• Although the new estimates come with uncertainties related to effects of other greenhouse gases and climate responses, they emphasize the necessity for rapid reductions in emissions.

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