Meeting climate goals through mitigation and intervention: developments in emissions reduction, greenhouse gas removal, and solar radiation modification
Abstract Non-technical summary This paper reviews efforts to meet the climate goals of the Paris Agreement: to limit global warming to well below 2°C and ideally to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. The paper shows how the likelihood of breaching these thresholds presents the need for additional me...
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Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Global Sustainability |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059479825000225/type/journal_article |
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| author | Dante McGrath Hugh Hunt John R. Taylor Shaun Fitzgerald |
| author_facet | Dante McGrath Hugh Hunt John R. Taylor Shaun Fitzgerald |
| author_sort | Dante McGrath |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract
Non-technical summary
This paper reviews efforts to meet the climate goals of the Paris Agreement: to limit global warming to well below 2°C and ideally to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. The paper shows how the likelihood of breaching these thresholds presents the need for additional measures, in mitigation and intervention. Three climate actions are discussed: emissions reduction, greenhouse gas removal, and solar radiation modification. These actions differ in timescale and current state of knowledge. Progress must intensify if they are to aid in securing a safe and stable climate for future generations.
Technical summary
Current assessments of global greenhouse gas emissions suggest the Paris Agreement temperature thresholds of 1.5°C and 2°C warming above pre-industrial levels could be breached. The impacts on humans and ecosystems could be severe. Global trends suggest a prolonged reliance on fossil fuels. Additional measures to limit global warming are therefore needed. Here, we review three climate actions: emissions reduction, greenhouse gas removal (GGR), and solar radiation modification (SRM). Emissions reduction requires shifting energy production away from fossil fuels (the primary contribution of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions), reducing energy use in key sectors, and optimising land management. GGR efforts must scale sustainably in the near term. The scale-up of novel methods is constrained by economic and technological challenges and, in some cases, limited knowledge. SRM has received growing attention, given the immediate impacts of global warming and the protracted timescales of emissions reduction and GGR. Robust research and governance frameworks are needed to assess the risks posed by SRM, alongside the risks of forgoing SRM. These three actions could enable society to fulfil the Paris Agreement, limiting global warming and its impacts while atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations are reduced to sustainable levels.
Social media summaryThe progress of climate mitigation and intervention towards securing a sustainable future in a safe and stable climate.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-da2a5e4a393e4b4a94b4be981121e3d6 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2059-4798 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj-art-da2a5e4a393e4b4a94b4be981121e3d62025-08-20T03:21:35ZengCambridge University PressGlobal Sustainability2059-47982025-01-01810.1017/sus.2025.22Meeting climate goals through mitigation and intervention: developments in emissions reduction, greenhouse gas removal, and solar radiation modificationDante McGrath0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0803-2384Hugh Hunt1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2764-8558John R. Taylor2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1292-3756Shaun Fitzgerald3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2178-496XCentre for Climate Repair, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UKCentre for Climate Repair, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UKCentre for Climate Repair, Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge CB3 0WA, UKCentre for Climate Repair, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UKAbstract Non-technical summary This paper reviews efforts to meet the climate goals of the Paris Agreement: to limit global warming to well below 2°C and ideally to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. The paper shows how the likelihood of breaching these thresholds presents the need for additional measures, in mitigation and intervention. Three climate actions are discussed: emissions reduction, greenhouse gas removal, and solar radiation modification. These actions differ in timescale and current state of knowledge. Progress must intensify if they are to aid in securing a safe and stable climate for future generations. Technical summary Current assessments of global greenhouse gas emissions suggest the Paris Agreement temperature thresholds of 1.5°C and 2°C warming above pre-industrial levels could be breached. The impacts on humans and ecosystems could be severe. Global trends suggest a prolonged reliance on fossil fuels. Additional measures to limit global warming are therefore needed. Here, we review three climate actions: emissions reduction, greenhouse gas removal (GGR), and solar radiation modification (SRM). Emissions reduction requires shifting energy production away from fossil fuels (the primary contribution of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions), reducing energy use in key sectors, and optimising land management. GGR efforts must scale sustainably in the near term. The scale-up of novel methods is constrained by economic and technological challenges and, in some cases, limited knowledge. SRM has received growing attention, given the immediate impacts of global warming and the protracted timescales of emissions reduction and GGR. Robust research and governance frameworks are needed to assess the risks posed by SRM, alongside the risks of forgoing SRM. These three actions could enable society to fulfil the Paris Agreement, limiting global warming and its impacts while atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations are reduced to sustainable levels. Social media summaryThe progress of climate mitigation and intervention towards securing a sustainable future in a safe and stable climate. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059479825000225/type/journal_articleClimate changeclimate mitigationclimate interventionemissions reductiongreenhouse gas removalsolar radiation modificationParis agreement |
| spellingShingle | Dante McGrath Hugh Hunt John R. Taylor Shaun Fitzgerald Meeting climate goals through mitigation and intervention: developments in emissions reduction, greenhouse gas removal, and solar radiation modification Global Sustainability Climate change climate mitigation climate intervention emissions reduction greenhouse gas removal solar radiation modification Paris agreement |
| title | Meeting climate goals through mitigation and intervention: developments in emissions reduction, greenhouse gas removal, and solar radiation modification |
| title_full | Meeting climate goals through mitigation and intervention: developments in emissions reduction, greenhouse gas removal, and solar radiation modification |
| title_fullStr | Meeting climate goals through mitigation and intervention: developments in emissions reduction, greenhouse gas removal, and solar radiation modification |
| title_full_unstemmed | Meeting climate goals through mitigation and intervention: developments in emissions reduction, greenhouse gas removal, and solar radiation modification |
| title_short | Meeting climate goals through mitigation and intervention: developments in emissions reduction, greenhouse gas removal, and solar radiation modification |
| title_sort | meeting climate goals through mitigation and intervention developments in emissions reduction greenhouse gas removal and solar radiation modification |
| topic | Climate change climate mitigation climate intervention emissions reduction greenhouse gas removal solar radiation modification Paris agreement |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059479825000225/type/journal_article |
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