2021/02/09 by Peiran R. Liu, Adrian E. Raftery · 5 citations
Economics, Econometrics and Finance · Environmental Science · #Climate Change Policy and Economics #Environmental Impact and Sustainability #Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics
paper · pdf · doi:10.1038/s43247-021-00097-8
openalex publication_date 2021/02/09 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/02
The 2015 Paris Agreement aims to keep global warming by 2100 to below 2°C, with 1.5°C as a target. To that end, countries agreed to reduce their emissions by nationally determined contributions (NDCs). Using a fully statistically based probabilistic framework, we find that the probabilities of meeting their nationally determined contributions for the largest emitters are low, e.g. 2% for the USA and 16% for China. On current trends, the probability of staying below 2°C of warming is only 5%, but if all countries meet their nationally determined contributions and continue to reduce emissions at the same rate after 2030, it rises to 26%. If the USA alone does not meet its nationally determined contribution, it declines to 18%. To have an even chance of staying below 2°C, the average rate of decline in emissions would need to increase from the 1% per year needed to meet the nationally determined contributions, to 1.8% per year.