Earth Breaks Through Critical 2-Degree Warming Limit, Raising Climate Change Concerns

The Earth's temperature briefly exceeded the crucial 2-degree Celsius threshold, a limit that scientists have warned could have catastrophic and irreversible consequences for the planet and its ecosystems. Although this breach was temporary, it signifies a planet that is steadily getting hotter and moving towards a longer-term situation where reversing climate crisis impacts will be difficult or impossible. The breach occurred just before the UN COP28 climate conference, where countries will assess their progress towards the Paris Climate Agreement's goal of limiting global warming to 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels. The world is already on track to surpass 1.5 degrees of warming, and even with current emissions-reduction pledges, it is projected to reach between 2.5 and 2.9 degrees this century. Every fraction of a degree above 1.5 degrees worsens the impacts, putting more people at risk and increasing the likelihood of irreversible tipping points. Scientists emphasize the urgency of tackling greenhouse gas emissions to address this alarming trend.