According to the Paris Agreement, countries are expected to take necessary measures to limit global warming to 1.5°C. However, even the best-case scenarios now indicate a significant chance of overshooting these targets, even if only temporarily. Climate overshoot refers to the period during which warming will exceed 1.5°C before it is brought back down. This period is likely to occur around the mid-century.
The longer the period of climate overshoot, the more dangerous it becomes. Prolonged periods of higher global temperatures will have destructive and irreversible consequences on natural ecosystems, biodiversity, and human communities, especially in dry areas, coastal zones, and other vulnerable locations. Deep emissions reductions during this decade are crucial for limiting the duration and impact of climate overshoot.