Road to curb temperature rises

The goal of the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, COP21, is to achieve a legally binding, international agreement to keep average global temperatures no more than 2°C above pre-industrial temperatures*

Global mean temperatures above pre-industrial levels

1850-1900

1.0°C

2.7°C

4-5°C

Average
temperature
13.7°C

Temperature
rise expected
to surpass 1°C
in 2015

Forecast warming†
by 2100 even if all
COP21 pledges
are implemented

Forecast rise by
2060 if current
emissions
levels continue

2.0°C

3-5°C

2010: 193 nations sign Cancun
Agreements committing governments
to “hold increase in global average
temperature below 2°C above
pre-industrial levels”

Warming on existing
emissions-reduction
policies. Low-lying
island states at risk
from rising sea levels

*Accurate assessment of temperatures in 1750s — when industrial revolution began — is difficult. To overcome problem, climatologists use average temperatures recorded between 1850 and 1900. †United Nations Synthesis report on aggregate effect of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs)

Sources: UK Met. Office Hadley Centre, Climate Action Tracker, WMO

Road to curb temperature rises

The goal of the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, COP21, is to achieve a legally binding, international agreement to keep average global temperatures no more than 2°C above pre-industrial temperatures*

Global mean temperatures
above pre-industrial levels

1850-1900

1.0°C

Average
temperature
13.7°C

Temperature
rise expected
to surpass
1°C in 2015

2.0°C

2010: 193 nations sign Cancun Agreements committing governments to “hold increase in global average temperature below 2°C above pre-industrial levels”

2.7°C

Forecast warming†
by 2100 even if all
COP21 pledges
are implemented

3-5°C

4-5°C

Warming on existing
emissions-reduction
policies. Low-lying
island states at risk
from rising sea levels

Forecast rise by
2060 if current
emissions
levels continue

*Accurate assessment of temperatures in 1750s — when industrial revolution began — is difficult. To overcome problem, climatologists use average temperatures recorded between 1850 and 1900. †United Nations Synthesis report on aggregate effect of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs)

Sources: UK Met. Office Hadley Centre, Climate Action Tracker, WMO

Road to curb temperature rises

The goal of the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, COP21, is to achieve a legally binding, international agreement to keep average global temperatures no more than 2°C above pre-industrial temperatures*

Global mean temperatures
above pre-industrial levels

1850-1900

Average
temperature
13.7°C

1.0°C

Temperature
rise expected
to surpass 1°C
in 2015

2.0°C

2010: 193 nations sign Cancun Agreements committing governments to “hold increase in global average temperature below 2°C above pre-industrial levels”

3-5°C

Warming on existing
emissions-reduction
policies. Low-lying
island states at risk
from rising sea levels

4-5°C

Forecast rise by
2060 if current
emissions
levels continue

*Accurate assessment of temperatures in 1750s — when industrial revolution began — is difficult. To overcome problem, climatologists use average temperatures recorded between 1850 and 1900

Sources: UK Met. Office Hadley Centre, Climate Action Tracker, WMO