London, Sep 19 (PTI) Limiting the increase in global average temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius - the key goal of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change - is still possible, but likely requires more ambitious emission reductions than those pledged so far, according to a study. Researchers, including those from the University of Oxford in the UK, investigated the geophysical likelihood of limiting global warming to "well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius." They found that significant emission reductions are required if we are to achieve one of the key goals of the Paris Agreement, and limit the increase in global average temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Three approaches were used to evaluate the outstanding carbon budget - the total amount of CO2 emissions compatible with a given global average warming - for 1.5 degrees Celsius. "The 5th Assessment did not specifically address the implications of the very ambitious 1.5 degrees Celsius goal using multiple lines of evidence as we do here.

Source: India Today September 19, 2017 10:52 UTC