Study Suggests Earth Warmed More Than Previously Thought, Exceeding Paris Agreement Target

New research using ancient sponges indicates global warming began earlier and has progressed further than established estimates, sparking debate among scientists.

A new study suggests that the Earth has warmed by 1.7 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, exceeding the 1.5 degrees Celsius target set by the Paris Agreement.
The study, led by Malcolm McCulloch, used centuries-old sponges from the Caribbean to measure past ocean temperatures, indicating that human-caused global warming began earlier than previously thought.
Some scientists have expressed skepticism about the study's findings, arguing that it overreaches by basing global temperature estimates on data from a single region.
The study's authors argue that their findings highlight the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid further dangerous climate change.
Despite the controversy, the study contributes to the ongoing debate about the accuracy of historical temperature records and the urgency of addressing climate change.