The totemic 1.5°C climate target: Best ideas of the century

image via New Scientist

January 19, 2026, 4:00 PM

• •AOSIS pushed for the 1.5°C target, recognizing the devastating impact of 2°C warming on small island nations.
• •The 1.5°C goal became a rallying cry, influencing countries, including the UK, to upgrade their climate goals.
• •The world is still not on track to meet the 1.5°C target, yet it remains the key benchmark for climate action.

The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) spearheaded a shift in global climate policy, advocating for a 1.5°C warming limit instead of the previously accepted 2°C, driven by research highlighting the severe threats to low-lying islands. Despite initial resistance, the 1.5°C target was included in the 2015 Paris Agreement, influencing nations and companies to adopt more ambitious climate goals. Although the world is projected to surpass the 1.5°C threshold, the target remains central in measuring global emission reduction progress. The focus has shifted, making each fraction of a degree of warming a critical concern.

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