COP31 divided over future of 1.5C climate goal

ANTALYA, Nov 15: The future of the 1.5C global warming target has become a major point of disagreement at the COP31 climate conference in Turkey, with countries divided over whether to maintain the ambitious goal or acknowledge that exceeding it is now unavoidable.

The United Nations declared in September that crossing the 1.5C threshold above pre-industrial temperatures was imminent and unavoidable. The world has already warmed by approximately 1.4C, raising concerns about increasingly severe climate impacts.

Despite the warning, several countries, particularly those vulnerable to rising sea levels and extreme weather, are insisting that the target remain central to international climate action.
Palau President SurangelWhipps Jr said the 1.5C goal was not an abstract target but an existential threat to his country's food security, economy and sovereignty.

Some nations are pushing for the final COP31 agreement to reaffirm 1.5C as the appropriate goal and call for temperatures to return to that level as soon as possible.

However, other countries, including members of the Arab Group and Like-Minded Developing Countries, are reportedly seeking to weaken references to the target. The groups include major emerging economies such as Saudi Arabia and India. �"AFP