IPCC Special Report
Global Warming of 1.5°C

The following information was obtained from the "Summary for Policymakers" section of the 2018 IPCC SR15 Special Report.


Background on IPCC

"IPCC" stands for "Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change". It is a United Nations body, charged with the mission to gather, organize and present to the world current research on climate change with an analysis of its geophysical, social, political and economic impacts.


The problems, data, and solutions to climate change offered in this website are largely based on reports most recently published by the IPCC.


To access the IPCC website click here.

IPCC Special Report
Global Warming of 1.5°C

"Global Warming of 1.5°C" is an IPCC special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty.


The special report was published in October 2018. The full, online report can be found here.

Intro to Understanding Global Warming

For general information on global warming, as presented in the IPCC Summary for Policymakers, goto page
Understanding Global Warming

Projections, Impacts, Risks

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Source:IPCC SR15 Summary for Policy Makers

Based on climate computer models that extend the data from past climate measurements into the future, the following impacts and risks are projected to occur in the course of global warming to 1.5°C. These impacts and risks are expected to be more severe if global warming increases to 2.0°C.

  • Increases in mean temperature on land and in oceans
  • Hot extremes in most inhabited regions
  • Increased intensity and frequency of heavy precipitation
  • Increased intensity and frequency of drought
  • Rising sea level
  • Destructive impacts on ecosystems
  • Reduced biodiversity, including species extinctions
  • Thawing of permafrost
  • Increase in sea level
  • Melting of glaciers, sea ice and ice sheets
  • Increase in ocean acidity
  • Decrease in ocean oxygen levels
  • Challenges to human health, security, and supplies of food and water
  • Challenges to economic growth
  • Increased needs for climate change adaptation


For more information go to page:
Projections, Impacts, Risks

Emission Pathways

Emission pathways define the means by which CO2 emissions are reduced over time to achieve and maintain a specific level of CO2 in the atmosphere and oceans. In the IPCC SR15 Report the level of CO2 targeted is that which produces a maximum 1.5°C of global warming since the years 1850-1900.


For more information go to page:
Emission Pathways

Strengthening Global Response

Climate change is a complex, global problem with multiple levels of difficulty. This section is intended to provide:

  • a review of the current, technical, global situation regarding climate change
  • a summary of the global challenges the world faces in solving the problem
  • a description of how sustainable development and climate change interface
  • a review of how stopping climate change can be helped by reduction of poverty
  • a summary of how adaptation and mitigation options can best be used
  • a description of a needed context for international cooperation


For more information go to:
Strengthening Global Response