Carbon Budget Dwindling — Climate Goals at Risk

The carbon budget estimates how much more C02 we can emit into the atmosphere and still keep global warming below 1.5˚ C. Find out why a new study found that we only have a 50% chance of meeting our climate targets.

It will soon be eight years since the historic 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) meeting in Paris. I can still remember the jubilation when representatives from nearly 200 countries finally reached an agreement on climate change.

Known as the Paris Agreement, its goal was to limit global warming to well below 2˚ C, and ideally, to work to keep warming below 1.5˚ C by 2030. The lower target came from concerns raised by vulnerable and small island nations, who believed the damage caused by a 2˚ increase was unacceptable for their populations.

Celebrations erupted around the world when the parties announced the agreement. Here in Canada, our environment minister, Catherine McKenna, said, “I’m really thrilled Canada was able to play an active part of it.”

“World’s Greatest Diplomatic Success”

Minister McKenna went on to say, “It is an incredible day today, to see 195 countries come…