From BBC
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Climate reporter, BBC News
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The world could see hugely damaging sea-level rise of several metres or more over the coming centuries even if the ambitious target of limiting global warming to 1.5C is met, scientists have warned.
Nearly 200 countries have pledged to try to keep the planet’s warming to 1.5C, but the researchers warn that this should not be considered “safe” for coastal populations.
They drew their conclusion after reviewing the most recent studies of how the ice sheets are changing – and how they have changed in the past.
But the scientists stress that every fraction of a degree of warming that can be avoided would still greatly limit the risks.
The world’s current trajectory puts the planet on course for nearly 3C of warming by the end of the century, compared with the late 1800s, before humans began burning large amounts of planet-heating fossil fuels. That’s based on current government policies to reduce carbon emissions from fossil fuels and other polluting activities.
But even keeping to 1.5C would still lead to continued melting of Greenland and Antarctica, as temperature changes can take centuries to have their full impact on such large masses of ice, the researchers say.
“Our key message is that limiting warming to 1.5C would be a major achievement – it should absolutely be our target – but in no sense will it slow or stop sea-level rise and melting ice sheets,” said lead author Prof Chris Stokes, a glaciologist at Durham University.
The 2015 Paris climate agreement saw the world’s
