Climate Stabilisation Under Net Zero CO2 Emissions

Abstract Under the Paris Agreement, signatories aim to limit the global mean temperature increase to well below 2°C above pre‐industrial levels. To achieve this, many countries have made net zero greenhouse gas emissions targets, with the aim of halting global warming and stabilizing the climate. He...

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Main Authors: Alexander Borowiak, Andrew D. King, Josephine R. Brown, Chris D. Jones, Michael Grose
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:Earth's Future
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EF005678
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author Alexander Borowiak
Andrew D. King
Josephine R. Brown
Chris D. Jones
Michael Grose
author_facet Alexander Borowiak
Andrew D. King
Josephine R. Brown
Chris D. Jones
Michael Grose
author_sort Alexander Borowiak
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Under the Paris Agreement, signatories aim to limit the global mean temperature increase to well below 2°C above pre‐industrial levels. To achieve this, many countries have made net zero greenhouse gas emissions targets, with the aim of halting global warming and stabilizing the climate. Here, we analyze the stability of global and local temperatures in an ensemble of simulations from the zero‐emissions commitment Model Intercomparison Project, where CO2 emissions are abruptly ceased. Our findings show that at both the global and local level stabilization does not occur immediately after net zero CO2 emissions. The multi‐model median (mean) global average temperature stabilizes after approximately 90 (124) years, with an inter‐model range of 64–330 years. However, for some models, this may underestimate the actual time to become stable, as this is the end of the simulation. Seven models exhibited cooling post‐emission cessation, with two of the models then warming after the initial cooling. One model gradually warmed through the entire simulation, while another had alternating cooling and warming. At the local level, responses varied significantly, with many models simulating the reversal of trends in some areas. Changes at the local level, at many locations, continue beyond the stabilization of global temperature and are not stable by the end of the simulations.
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spelling doaj-art-56e9663ec3f642c994cfec5a4e28d2462025-08-20T02:08:27ZengWileyEarth's Future2328-42772025-03-01133n/an/a10.1029/2024EF005678Climate Stabilisation Under Net Zero CO2 EmissionsAlexander Borowiak0Andrew D. King1Josephine R. Brown2Chris D. Jones3Michael Grose4School of Geography Earth and Atmospheric Sciences The University of Melbourne Parkville VIC AustraliaSchool of Geography Earth and Atmospheric Sciences The University of Melbourne Parkville VIC AustraliaSchool of Geography Earth and Atmospheric Sciences The University of Melbourne Parkville VIC AustraliaMet Office Hadley Centre Exeter UKOceans and Atmosphere CSIRO Hobart TAS AustraliaAbstract Under the Paris Agreement, signatories aim to limit the global mean temperature increase to well below 2°C above pre‐industrial levels. To achieve this, many countries have made net zero greenhouse gas emissions targets, with the aim of halting global warming and stabilizing the climate. Here, we analyze the stability of global and local temperatures in an ensemble of simulations from the zero‐emissions commitment Model Intercomparison Project, where CO2 emissions are abruptly ceased. Our findings show that at both the global and local level stabilization does not occur immediately after net zero CO2 emissions. The multi‐model median (mean) global average temperature stabilizes after approximately 90 (124) years, with an inter‐model range of 64–330 years. However, for some models, this may underestimate the actual time to become stable, as this is the end of the simulation. Seven models exhibited cooling post‐emission cessation, with two of the models then warming after the initial cooling. One model gradually warmed through the entire simulation, while another had alternating cooling and warming. At the local level, responses varied significantly, with many models simulating the reversal of trends in some areas. Changes at the local level, at many locations, continue beyond the stabilization of global temperature and are not stable by the end of the simulations.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EF005678climate changenet zeroCO2climate stabilizationZECMIPparis agreement
spellingShingle Alexander Borowiak
Andrew D. King
Josephine R. Brown
Chris D. Jones
Michael Grose
Climate Stabilisation Under Net Zero CO2 Emissions
Earth's Future
climate change
net zeroCO2
climate stabilization
ZECMIP
paris agreement
title Climate Stabilisation Under Net Zero CO2 Emissions
title_full Climate Stabilisation Under Net Zero CO2 Emissions
title_fullStr Climate Stabilisation Under Net Zero CO2 Emissions
title_full_unstemmed Climate Stabilisation Under Net Zero CO2 Emissions
title_short Climate Stabilisation Under Net Zero CO2 Emissions
title_sort climate stabilisation under net zero co2 emissions
topic climate change
net zeroCO2
climate stabilization
ZECMIP
paris agreement
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EF005678
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AT andrewdking climatestabilisationundernetzeroco2emissions
AT josephinerbrown climatestabilisationundernetzeroco2emissions
AT chrisdjones climatestabilisationundernetzeroco2emissions
AT michaelgrose climatestabilisationundernetzeroco2emissions