Overview
- A United Nations Environment Programme report published in early September 2026 says global temperatures are on track to pass the Paris 1.5°C limit within a few years and outlines an ‘overshoot, peak and decline’ pathway to return below 1.5°C over time.
- The report calls for immediate and sustained cuts to greenhouse gases, stronger measures to protect people and infrastructure from worsening climate impacts, and eventual net‑negative emissions through carbon dioxide removal.
- Scientists warn carbon removal is necessary but uncertain because natural methods like reforestation are limited and vulnerable to climate impacts while engineered removal faces high costs, technical hurdles and governance gaps.
- Rising CO2 — which set a record in 2025 — together with growing electricity demand from AI and data centres and plans for new gas power plants make policy and investment choices over the next few years decisive for how large and long any overshoot will be.
- The report reframes the climate task as urgent and practical: act now to cut fossil‑fuel use and finance adaptation for vulnerable communities so peak warming is lower and the world has a realistic chance to return below 1.5°C this century.