In a new study published in the scientific journal Nature, scientists warn that overshooting 1.5°C of warming will lead to changes that cannot be reversed for decades or longer, and that the world must view the race to cut climate pollution as an all-out sprint.
This research follows the release of the 2024 State of the Climate Report: Perilous times on planet Earth, which warned current policies are leading to “perilous times” in a hothouse Earth, and that we are already experiencing record land and ocean temperatures, coral bleaching, reduced sea ice extent, and forest loss.
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Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said, “Yet again, scientists are warning of the catastrophic consequences of the climate crisis. We’ve seen those consequences hit Australia with massive fires and floods of a scale never seen before.
“Yes, progress is being made, with 40% of Australia now powered by renewables. But cuts to climate pollution must be accelerated right now.
“The Climate Council’s recent report, Seize the Decade, shows Australia can slash climate pollution this decade by doubling down on clean energy backed up by storage. Burning coal, oil and gas creates the climate pollution driving this crisis—climate scientists could not be more clear: we have to stop burning this toxic stuff.”
Climate Councillor Professor Lesley Hughes said, “Temporary overshoots in global warming are a ticking time bomb. The damage caused by surpassing 1.5°C could last for centuries, locking in catastrophic sea level rise and pushing us past critical climate tipping points. There’s no reversing these impacts in a human lifetime—we must stop them before they start.
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“Climate pollution from coal, oil, and gas is driving deadly and destructive hurricanes in the US right now, while Australia faces its own climate disasters every year. We’re seeing floods, bushfires, and extreme storms supercharged by fossil fuel emissions. This is a direct consequence of climate inaction.
“We cannot afford half-measures. Governments around the world—including Australia— need to cut climate pollution rapidly this decade. The longer we delay, the worse the consequences for our future.”
