The role of carbon removal

To reverse the temperature rise, we must go beyond net zero to net-negative emissions. CDR includes both nature-based solutions like reforestation and technological methods that capture carbon directly from the air. While necessary, CDR is not a substitute for emission cuts . The required scale is immense, and relying too heavily on unproven technologies risks being a form of climate procrastination . The overshoot itself increases the demand for CDR, as the excess CO? must be actively removed from the atmosphere for temperatures to decline .

Accepting the Reality of Warming

While the 1.5°C target may be breached, the fight is far from over. The scientific community stresses that every fraction of a degree matters. A peak of 1.6°C or 1.7°C, while more damaging than 1.5°C, is significantly better than the 2.7°C or higher scenarios we are currently headed for . The conversation must shift from an absolute focus on a single number to a broader discussion of "what is possible" given current circumstances . By treating 1.5°C as a red line to be returned to, rather than a point of no return, we can focus our efforts on limiting damage and building resilience.

Ultimately, "not breaching 1.5°C" in a permanent sense is a complex, two-stage process. It involves acknowledging the temporary breach, but immediately committing to a level of mitigation, adaptation, and carbon removal that is both unprecedented and essential to bring our climate back from the brink.

By Jamuna Rangachari