UN report says returning to 1.5°C by 2100 is possible, but experts doubt feasibility

A United Nations scientific assessment released this week concludes that limiting global warming to 1.5 °C above pre‑industrial levels by the end of the century remains technically feasible, provided that emissions are reduced sharply and net‑zero carbon dioxide removal technologies are deployed at scale. The report outlines a pathway that combines rapid phase‑out of coal, a near‑term halt to new fossil‑fuel infrastructure, and large‑scale adoption of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and carbon‑capture solutions. It also emphasizes the need for coordinated policy action, substantial financial investment, and accelerated research to meet the outlined targets.

Despite the optimistic scenario, a majority of climate researchers caution that achieving the 1.5 °C goal is highly unlikely given current emission trajectories and the limited pace of policy implementation. Recent data show global temperatures already approaching 1.3 °C of warming, while many nations are falling short of their pledged reductions. The scientific community therefore stresses that without immediate, unprecedented mitigation efforts, the world is more likely to exceed the 1.5 °C threshold, underscoring the urgency of intensified climate action.