Context

The climate is changing. Average temperatures are increasing due to human activity, particularly the historically high level of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

In order to limit temperature rise, and associated risks of accelerated sea level rise and more frequent extreme weather events for example, the world must reduce GHG emissions and work towards a low-carbon economy.

The 2015 Paris Climate Agreement adopted by 195 countries has the goal that the world will limit the increase in global temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and will pursue efforts to limit the increase to below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Stabilising the world’s climate requires net global emissions of GHGs to be reduced to zero before the end of the 21st century, especially emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) as it is long-lived in the atmosphere. 

Read the summary

• The problem, p7

Read the report

• Introduction, p24
• Report framework
• Global context
• Co-benefits
• UNFCCC 21st Conference of Parties, Paris, December 2015