Zero: The Climate Race cover image

Zero: The Climate Race

If 1.5C is dead, what happens next?

Jan 9, 2025
Eric Roston and Zahra Hirji, Bloomberg Green reporters, dive into the alarming implications of surpassing the 1.5°C temperature threshold, predicting 2024 to be the hottest year on record. They discuss the urgent need for governments and corporations to rethink climate goals amidst increasing extreme weather events. The duo explores the complexities of linking temperature spikes to climate change versus natural cycles and highlights the balance between grassroots activism and regulatory action in addressing the crisis.
22:38

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Surpassing the 1.5C threshold signifies a potential climate breakdown, driving the urgency for comprehensive climate action against worsening conditions.
  • The complex interplay of human activity and natural phenomena complicates climate change attribution, highlighting the need for a reevaluation of achievable climate goals.

Deep dives

The Significance of the 1.5 Degree Threshold

The likelihood of surpassing a global average temperature of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels poses a significant concern, as the last ten years have recorded the hottest temperatures in history. This threshold, established under the Paris Agreement, is crucial for global climate goals and has been tied to corporate net-zero commitments. Surpassing this limit would symbolize a climate breakdown in real time, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive climate action to mitigate long-term impacts. Scientists and policymakers express alarm that crossing this threshold indicates not just an aberration but potentially a sustained acceleration in warming trends.

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