A Decade After Paris Agreement, Experts Say Global Warming Goals Remain Unmet

A Decade After Paris Agreement, Experts Warn World Has Failed to Halt Warming.

Ten years after the Paris Agreement, the climate crisis has intensified faster than anticipated, and global action has struggled to keep pace. Earth’s average temperature has risen about 0.46°C (0.83°F) since 2015, making this one of the hottest decades on record. Heatwaves, wildfires, floods, and storms have hit across the globe, from India and the Middle East to North America and Siberia, causing billions in damages.

Glaciers have lost over 7 trillion tons of ice, sea levels have risen 40 mm, and deforestation has turned parts of the Amazon from a carbon sink into a carbon source. Meanwhile, methane and CO₂ levels continue to climb, and emissions in countries like India and China have surged.

While renewable energy, electric vehicles, and green infrastructure have grown rapidly, experts say progress is far too slow. Johan Rockström of the Potsdam Institute calls it a “failure,” warning that the world is now on track for roughly 2.8°C of warming — far beyond the 1.5°C goal.

Former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres and UNEP head Inger Andersen stress that the gap between action and climate impact is widening. The upcoming UN talks in Belem, Brazil, aim to accelerate solutions, but the urgency has never been greater.