UN chief warns world will exceed 1.5°C climate limit without urgent action

The United Nations Secretary-General has issued a stark warning that the world is now on course to inevitably overshoot the 1.5°C global warming target, a key threshold set under the Paris Agreement to prevent the most catastrophic impacts of climate change.

Speaking at a recent climate summit, the UN chief emphasized that despite scientific consensus and repeated international pledges, global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, pushing the planet toward dangerous levels of warming. “We are failing to meet the 1.5°C target; overshooting it is now inevitable. The real question is by how much and for how long,” he said.

The 1.5°C limit, agreed upon in 2015, was designed to safeguard ecosystems, human health, and vulnerable nations from severe heatwaves, floods, droughts, and rising sea levels. However, continued reliance on fossil fuels, insufficient emission cuts, and delayed transitions to renewable energy have accelerated the pace of warming.

The UN chief urged world leaders to act with urgency and unity, calling for a rapid phase-out of coal, oil, and gas, alongside massive investments in clean technologies. He also highlighted the importance of climate finance for developing countries, stating that the burden of adaptation and mitigation cannot be carried unequally.

Experts warn that temporary overshoot could still be reversed if global emissions peak before 2030 and carbon removal technologies are scaled up. However, prolonged inaction could make returning below 1.5°C impossible, locking the planet into a future of irreversible damage.

The warning serves as a wake-up call ahead of upcoming global climate negotiations, where nations will be expected to strengthen their commitments and prove that climate promises can still translate into meaningful progress.