Stopping warming at 1.5 C or so can avoid or at least lessen some of the most catastrophic future climate change harms and for some people is a life-or-death matter, scientists have found in many reports.
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND -- One phrase, really just a number, dominates climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland: The magic and elusive 1.5.
The 1.5 figure now it is the "overarching objective" of the Glasgow climate talks, called COP26, conference President Alok Sharma said on the first day of the conference. To get there, scientists and the United Nations say the world needs to cut its current emissions by about half as of 2030. That's one of the three goals the UN has set for success in Glasgow.
The 2-degree goal was the existing goal from 2009's failed Copenhagen conference. The goal was initially interpreted as 2 degrees or substantially lower if possible.