It is now almost certain the world will warm past 1.5C. But ‘net-negative’ emissions are still possible | Wesley Morgan for the Conversation
Guardian AU
•Mon, 31 Aug 2026 02:07:10 GMT
📰 What Happened
In a Conversation piece republished by the Guardian, Wesley Morgan argued it is now almost certain the world will warm past the Paris agreement's 1.5C goal, but that 'net-negative' emissions — removing more carbon than is emitted — are still possible. The piece ran as Anthony Albanese headed to Palau for the annual Pacific Islands Forum, where climate change was to top the agenda alongside regional security and fuel shortages. A record-breaking El Niño looms in the Pacific Ocean.
🔍 The Backstory
The Pacific Islands Forum in Palau was expected to grapple with China testing nuclear-capable missiles in the Pacific, reliance on costly fossil fuels exposed by the US-Lran war, and the approaching El Niño. The forum was missing several key leaders, including Solomon Islands' PM Matthew Wale, who flew out hours after arriving to deal with a leadership challenge at home.
🎯 Why It Matters
The piece reframes climate action after 1.5C is overshot: overshoot does not make mitigation pointless, and net-negative pathways justify continued ambition. It underpins Pacific calls for urgent emission cuts and adaptation finance as El Niño risks a new wave of extreme weather.
In a Conversation piece republished by the Guardian, Wesley Morgan argued it is now almost certain the world will warm past the Paris agreement's 1.5C goal, but that 'net-negative' emissions — removing more carbon than is emitted — are still possible. The piece ran as Anthony Albanese headed to Palau for the annual Pacific Islands Forum, where climate change was to top the agenda alongside regional security and fuel shortages. A record-breaking El Niño looms in the Pacific Ocean.
The Pacific Islands Forum in Palau was expected to grapple with China testing nuclear-capable missiles in the Pacific, reliance on costly fossil fuels exposed by the US-Lran war, and the approaching El Niño. The forum was missing several key leaders, including Solomon Islands' PM Matthew Wale, who flew out hours after arriving to deal with a leadership challenge at home.
The piece reframes climate action after 1.5C is overshot: overshoot does not make mitigation pointless, and net-negative pathways justify continued ambition. It underpins Pacific calls for urgent emission cuts and adaptation finance as El Niño risks a new wave of extreme weather.