UNEP Warns Global Temperature Rises Set to Exceed 1.5C Threshold Within a Few Years

A recent United Nations Environment Programme report states that global temperature rises are likely to exceed the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold within a few years. The report emphasizes the high likelihood of a temperature overshoot, calling for urgent emission cuts and carbon dioxide removal strategies.

Global temperature rises are set to exceed the key threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) within a few years, according to a report released on Wednesday by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The environmental body stated that this trajectory will create more extreme weather and intensify pressure on ecosystems, glaciers, and low-lying coastal cities.

Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, governments committed to keeping temperature rises within 1.5C to limit the impacts of extreme weather. However, UNEP noted that an 'overshoot' is now extremely likely. Consequently, countries now need to focus on limiting how long temperatures remain above the 1.5C mark.

The report cautions that every year of delay and every fraction of a degree above 1.5C increases risks and makes recovery harder. Irreversible losses remain possible even if global temperatures decline later. Bringing temperature rises back to below 1.5C is described as possible but highly uncertain, requiring rapid emission cuts alongside interventions to remove carbon dioxide already present in the atmosphere.

Under the most optimistic scenario outlined in the report, temperature rises will peak at 1.8C above pre-industrial levels if all existing national pledges are fully implemented. However, the report adds that actual temperature increases are likely to be much higher. Under current policies, median projected global warming is expected to reach around 2.6C by the year 2100.

To control rising temperatures, the report highlights that carbon dioxide removal (CDR) measures—including planting new forests—will be critical. Nevertheless, UNEP emphasizes that these removal measures cannot serve as a replacement for deep cuts in current emission levels.

"The latest UNEP findings signal critical macroeconomic shifts that will inevitably impact global supply chains, energy sectors, and regulatory compliance. As climate risks intensify and policy frameworks tighten to curb carbon emissions, businesses and investors must factor environmental longevity into long-term strategic planning. Markets are moving toward sustainability-driven accountability, making proactive adaptation essential for long-term enterprise resilience." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes