Reflecting on a Decade After the Paris Agreement: The Challenges Ahead

As the Paris Agreement approaches its tenth anniversary in 2025, experts Marcelo de Araujo and Pedro Fior Mota de Andrade emphasize the pathway to stabilizing global temperatures and the impending challenges for both current and future generations. The agreement aims to limit the temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, a target many assert may lead to significant climate stabilization by the end of the century.

However, a critical issue arises: the likelihood of an "overshoot period," during which temperatures could exceed the 1.5°C threshold, poses significant environmental risks. The authors point out that the generation living during this overshoot may bear the brunt of climate-related challenges, needing to actively remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere using potentially untested technologies.

The interplay of interests among the current, overshoot, and post-overshoot generations complicates the fulfillment of the Paris Agreement's goals. The current generation, they argue, may prioritize immediate benefits, potentially harming the long-term prospects for both the overshoot and post-overshoot generations. The authors call for a reexamination of global efforts to facilitate a just transition that balances the climate responsibilities across all generations while ensuring that the burdens do not fall unfairly on any single group.

As researchers caution about the necessity of adopting geoengineering techniques if carbon capture technologies fail to meet expected demands, they advocate for proactive solutions to address the climate crisis. Such measures are essential to mitigate risks and secure a better future for all generations, highlighting the urgent need for international cooperation.