Leading climate scientists warn that exceeding the 1.5°C global warming limit is imminent, potentially within three years at current emission rates. A new study reveals a drastically reduced "carbon budget," shrinking from 500 billion tonnes in 2020 to 130 billion tonnes in 2025. Continued high CO2 emissions, around 40 billion tonnes annually, leave only about three years before this budget is depleted. While last year's record temperatures were partly influenced by natural weather patterns, human-caused warming remains the primary driver. The researchers stress the urgency of drastic emission cuts, emphasizing that every fraction of warming avoided reduces the severity of climate change impacts.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.