What’s the difference between 1.5 and 2 degrees of global warming?

Jul 28, 2021

wildlife in the Arctic has already been affected by global warming, like this polar bear swimming here

Degrees of difference ... Ice-free summers in the Arctic will be increasingly common if warming reaches 2C. Image: Unsplash/Annie Spratt

Sean Fleming

Senior Writer, Formative Content

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these color-coded maps show projected changes for average temperatures with 1.5C and 2C of global warming, compared to pre-industrial levels.

Projected changes for average temperatures with 1.5C and 2C of global warming, compared to pre-industrial levels. Image: A Degree of Concern: Why Global Temperatures Matter, NAS

these statistics show the worrying impact of 2°C compared to 1°C

A rise of 2C or more could be devastating. Image: Australian Climate Council

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