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Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C: draft summary for policy makers

A leaked version of a the draft of the UN Special Report on 1.5 Degrees, the final version of which is due to be released in the last quarter of 2018, has warned that global warming is set to breach the lower limit for warming of 1.5 degrees set under the Paris Agreement.

This summary presents key findings from the Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty. The Special Report is prepared in the context of unequivocal and sustained global warming and sea level rise, and continued emissions of greenhouse gases. The Special Report assesses knowledge on global climate change, regional climate changes, vulnerabilities, impacts and risks at 1.5°C global warming above pre-industrial levels for natural and human systems, taking into account adaptive capacities and their limits. It provides new insights on impacts that may be avoided with 1.5°C global arming compared to 2°C. It explores global greenhouse gas emission pathways consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, including those which temporarily exceed 1.5°C global warming before returning to 1.5°C by the end of this century. The Special Report assesses the pace and scale of transformations consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5°C compared to 2°C global warming, in the context of sustainable development, poverty eradication and equity, considering adaptation and mitigation options.