In a joint statement, the researchers emphasized that current efforts are far from sufficient. “Due to inadequate emission reductions, even the most ambitious pathways will temporarily push temperatures beyond 1.5°C,” they warned. They also highlighted the concrete consequences of any delay in cutting emissions:
“Every five years without significant CO₂ reductions adds roughly 0.1°C to global temperatures and requires around 200 GtCO₂ (gigatons of carbon dioxide) of negative emissions to return to 1.5°C.”
The scientists stressed that even a fraction of additional warming increases risks to ecosystems, public health, and development prospects—especially in developing countries. They reminded the public that climate impacts “are already widespread and will continue to intensify,” underlining the urgency for adaptive measures and the need to mobilize additional financial resources.