Carbon Budget    

A carbon budget refers to the amount of carbon that can be emitted before global temperature rise exceeds a certain limit. The concept was first proposed in the 1980s and has gained traction since 2009 with the establishment of the 2 °C target as a basis for climate policy.

Though carbon budgets are hard to estimate accurately due to the uncertainties in climate models, the concept is a reminder that the longer we wait, the more radical the needed measures are in order to avoid impacts Climate ImpactsThe results and consequences of the climate crisis.Read on اقرأ المزيد . They also serve as a benchmark for policymaking and can help ensure that mitigation MitigationThe efforts to reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. Mitigation measures include reducing emissions on the demand side through energy-efficiency…Read on اقرأ المزيد efforts are based on real solutions.

Identifying the remaining carbon budget

The idea behind the carbon budget is that global heating Global HeatingThe increase in average global temperatures, which has been primarily driven by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions since the start of…Read on اقرأ المزيد is strongly linked to the levels of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere. Cumulative greenhouse gas emissions Greenhouse Gas (GHG) EmissionsGases that trap infrared rays in the atmosphere, contributing to global heating. Examples include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous…Read on اقرأ المزيد that would keep the rise in global temperature below a given level (most notably the Paris Targets Paris Targets: 2° and 1.5° TargetKeeping the global mean temperature below 1.5 °C or 2°C heating compared to pre-industrial levels. Temperatures are expected to be…Read on اقرأ المزيد of 2 °C and 1.5 °C) are called the remaining carbon budget Carbon Budget    The idea behind the carbon budget is that global heating is strongly linked to the levels of carbon dioxide (CO2)…Read on اقرأ المزيد .

According to the results of IPCC's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)The IPCC was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) to…Read on اقرأ المزيد Sixth assessment report (AR6) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6)The latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change  (IPCC) summarizing the available science on climate change. Three working…Read on اقرأ المزيد , the remaining carbon budget as of 2020 was 500 gigatons for a 50% chance of limiting warming to 1.5°C. The report concluded that the world needs to cut emissions by half by 2030 and eventually phase out fossil fuels or we might face run-away climate change Run-Away Climate ChangeRun-away climate change is already possible under current levels of global warming. However, beyond certain tipping points, namely the 1.5-2°C…Read on اقرأ المزيد .

Criticism of carbon budgets

Although carbon budgets are an effective method of framing mitigation MitigationThe efforts to reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. Mitigation measures include reducing emissions on the demand side through energy-efficiency…Read on اقرأ المزيد targets, there is a lot of uncertainty around the exact number. The concept assumes a linear, mechanical relationship between CO₂ emissions and temperature rise. However, the climate system is much more complicated. At any given time, there are many factors that dynamically influence the climate system, including methane emissions Methane EmissionsMethane (CH4) is the main component of fossil gas, making up 96% of its composition. It is also emitted from…Read on اقرأ المزيد and Earth-system feedback. Those factors make it harder to come up with the exact remaining carbon budget.