A new global surface temperature change record and quantification of the Paris climate goals (IMAGE)
Caption
The graphic illustrates the observed and predicted rise in global surface air temperature until 2024 and 2034, respectively, followed by two different scenarios up to 2050. The blue line depicts the IPCC's ambitious climate action scenario that is compliant with the Paris goals: strong emission reductions towards net-zero CO2 emissions around the middle of the century. The orange line shows the rise in temperature if continuing the current annual emission levels without reduction, which leads to a severe exceedance of the goals up to beyond 2 °C.
Credit
© University of Graz - Wegener Center
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Royalty-free use of the image, with mention of the copyright, only for editorial use in connection with the publication by Gottfried Kirchengast & Moritz Pichler (2025): A traceable global warming record and clarity for the 1.5 °C and well-below-2 °C goals. Communications Earth & Environment, June 2, 2025.
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Original content