UN Admits: 1.5°C Is Gone

A new UNEP report marks a pivotal acknowledgment: the world is entering an era of climate overshoot beyond 1.5°C of warming. This discussion examines what that means for melting ice sheets, sea-level rise, extreme heat, wildfire, food and water security, ecosystems, and the growing danger of irreversible climate tipping points. It also stresses that every additional fraction of a degree matters—and that rapid, sustained cuts in greenhouse-gas emissions remain essential.

This video was recorded on September 16th, 2026, and published on September 20th, 2026, and represents the opinions of the discussion participants.

The conversation assesses the report’s strengths and limitations. While it recognizes the urgency of immediate emissions reductions and the need to limit the height and duration of overshoot, the panel questions whether its proposed path back to lower temperatures is adequately supported by science. It also considers omissions from the report, including solar-radiation management, nuclear energy, carbon-dioxide removal, accelerating warming, and the political reality that some governments continue to expand fossil-fuel pollution rather than reduce it.

The programme closes with three additional climate developments: a major research project exploring whether interconnected Arctic species can adapt together to rapid change; evidence linking higher atmospheric water vapour to more intense extreme rainfall; and calls for emergency measures to protect marine life from extreme ocean heating during a possible future super El Niño. The central message is urgent but not hopeless: meaningful action now can still reduce harm, protect lives, and preserve more viable futures.

Links:

• Support Our Mission

• Limiting Overshoot - Navigating exceedance of 1.5°C and pathways towards return

• Climate Protection and Restoration Initiative

• Limiting Overshoot

• Global heating will pass 1.5C threshold this year, top ex-Nasa scientist says

• No 1.5 Without Intervention (CEF Video)

• Global Tipping Points: Inside the 2025 Report (CEF Video)

• Global Warming in the Pipeline and Earth’s Energy Imbalance (CEF Video)

• Hansen’s El Niño Warning (CEF Video)

• North America Is Heating Up (CEF Video)

• Europe’s Record‑Shattering Heat (CEF Video)

• United Nations Environment Programme

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

• Paris Agreement

• Can an entire Arctic ecosystem evolve to adapt to the climate crisis?

• The Atmosphere Just Set a Water Vapor Record

• Super-Duper El Niño

• Scientists call for ‘emergency’ measures to save sea life from El Niño

Special Guests

• Dan Galpern - is founder, executive director, and general counsel to Climate Protection & Restoration Initiative, a US nonprofit organization. He has served as legal and policy adviser to climate scientist Dr. James Hansen since 2011. Prior to the law, Dan worked for 20 years as a public interest analyst and advocate for human rights and global security.

Regular Panelists:

• Dr. Peter Carter - MD, Expert IPCC Reviewer and the director of the Climate Emergency Institute.

• Paul Beckwith - Climate Systems Scientist. Professor at the University of Ottawa’s Paleoclimatology Laboratory as well as at Carleton University

• Herb Simmens - Author, Co-founder of the Healthy Planet Action Coalition (HPAC), Climate Emergency Board Member and former college instructor.

Video Production:

• Charles Gregoire - Electrical Engineer, Webmaster and IT prime for FacingFuture.Earth & the Climate Emergency Forum; Climate Reality Leader

• Heidi Brault - Climate Reality Leader, BA(Psychology), Library & Information Technician Diploma - Video production and website assistant - Organizer and convener, Metadata technician, COP Team Lead for FacingFuture.Earth and the Climate Emergency Forum.

Attributions:

Background Music:

• Title: Through the City II
• Author: Crowander
• Source: crowander.com

Image and Video:

• Image and Video Attributions