Ten Years After the Paris Agreement: Meeting Earth’s Climate Challenge

As the Paris Agreement approaches its tenth anniversary in 2025, experts are reassessing its long-term goals and their implications for future generations. The agreement aimed to limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C, ideally capping it at 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. However, climate scientists warn that temperature overshoot is likely to occur by mid-century, leading to prolonged periods of extreme weather and environmental stress.

The findings indicate that both the current generation and the 'overshoot generation,' which will experience the effects of climate change in the coming decades, will face significant challenges. While achieving the Paris Agreement's goals may benefit those in the post-overshoot generation—those living in the first half of the 22nd century—it places the burden of greenhouse gas removal on the overshoot generation. This could involve relying on yet-to-be-proven carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, as well as potentially untested geoengineering methods.

With the needs of three differing generations at stake, experts warn of unjust decision-making that could prioritize the current generation's interests over the well-being of future people. Current global policies may inadvertently create conflicts as the overshoot generation strives to achieve climate stabilization under challenging circumstances.

The article highlights that although immediate reductions in emissions are crucial, the persistence of greenhouse gases means that efforts must also focus on retroactive mitigation for past emissions. Ensuring intergenerational justice will be pivotal in navigating these complexities, as harmony between the interests of different generations as well as equitable sharing of burdens must be maintained to avoid exacerbating global inequalities.