Rising global temperatures exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels pose a significant threat to ecosystems and human societies.

What's this about?

People disagree about whether Earth warming past 1.5°C above the time before large factories creates major dangers. The evidence says each bit of extra heat raises risks for nature and people.

What supporters say

• More warming can bring worse heat waves, dry spells, floods, fires, and rising seas.
• Risks to food, water, health, jobs, homes, and wild places rise more at 2°C than 1.5°C.
• The year 2024 reached about 1.55°C above the old 1850–1900 average.
• Plants and animals may fail to cope with heat, drought, and repeat harm to their homes.

What critics say

• No one can say exactly how each town or region will change.
• Scientists cannot link every flood, fire, or storm to climate change alone.
• Scientists have more proof for some types of harsh weather than for others.
• We do not yet know the exact time or results of some major Earth changes.

The bottom line

The evidence strongly shows that warming above 1.5°C creates growing threats for people and nature. Some harm, such as ice loss, sea rise, and lost species, may last for many centuries.