Recent data released by the European Union climate monitor indicates that the global average temperature over the past 12 months has exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. This milestone is significant as it approaches the upper limit set by the Paris Agreement to limit global warming. While it doesn’t mean that the threshold has been crossed definitively, it serves as a stark reminder of the urgency to address climate change. The 1.5 and 2 degree Celsius targets represent levels of warming that would lead to severe consequences for ecosystems and communities worldwide, including deadlier heatwaves, rising sea levels, and increased extreme weather events. Despite efforts to curb emissions, current projections indicate that the world is on track for around 2.5 degrees Celsius of warming by 2100, highlighting the need for more ambitious climate action.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/08/climate/global-warming-dangerous-threshold.html