A new report from Future Earth, The Earth League and the World Climate Research Programme turns the latest climate science into 10 insights for policymakers. Written by more than 70 scientists, it warns that past emissions have already locked in some ocean warming, sea level rise and glacier loss, but the scale of future damage still depends on how fast emissions are cut. The report covers the risks of overshooting the 1.5C Paris target, including irreversible impacts on oceans, glaciers and permafrost. It also says the social cost of carbon could be up to four times higher than earlier estimates, that animal-sourced foods dominate EU food emissions, and that climate clubs with border carbon taxes could reduce carbon leakage if paired with support for developing countries. Other insights include stronger scientific links between major emitters and specific climate damages, which could boost litigation and compensation claims, and the risk that conflict and energy security pressures make the transition more unequal. The overall message is that the window for action is narrow but still open.
