Global warming must peak below 2°C then return under 1.5°C to limit risk of dangerous “tipping points”, experts say
However, the share of the UK public who say the country needs to reduce carbon emissions to net zero sooner than 2050 has nearly halved since 2021, according to a new study
Juliana O'Rourke
19 February 2026
Dr Paul Ritche from Exeter’s Global Systems Institute
Dr Paul Ritche from Exeter’s Global Systems Institute
Global warming must peak below 2°C then return under 1.5°C as quickly as possible to limit the risk of dangerous “tipping points”, experts say.
A new paper by an international team of researchers, reviews the latest evidence and says global temperatures must cool to around 1°C above pre-industrial levels in the long term.
The paper, The implications of overshooting 1.5°C on Earth system tipping elements – a review, has been published in a special issue of the journal Environmental Research Letters.
The global transport sector is a major driver of climate change, accounting for approximately 16% to nearly 27% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Road transport is the largest contributor, responsible for over 70% of these emissions, driven by a 95% reliance on fossil fuels. Total transportation emissions have nearly doubled since 1990, according to 2024 figures from the International Energy Agency.
📈 #ClimateChange #TippingPoints near
🚘 #Transport a major driver
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