World likely to pass dangerous warming limits

LONDON (Reuters) – The world will probably exceed a global warming limit which the European Union calls dangerous, scientists at Britain’s MetOffice Hadley Centre said on Tuesday, presenting a new, 5-year research program.

But not all scientists agree, demonstrating a shift in debate from whether climate change is happening — on which where there is near consensus — to how bad it will get and what to do about it.
European Union (EU) leaders reiterated in March “the vital importance” of restricting global warming to no more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

That goal is the basis for a raft of EU climate measures to cut emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases. MetOffice researchers doubted it was achievable.

“I think it’s well accepted that 2 degrees is likely to be exceeded,” said Vicky Pope, manager of the MetOffice Hadley Centre’s climate change research program.

“We need much more accurate, detailed information about how climate change will happen in the future,” she added.

Some scientists are optimistic about the EU target.

Reuters