Action needed to prevent 2C global warming

Key points of the United Nations report into climate change, which highlights the stark environmental difference between global warming of 2C and 1.5C.

IF TEMPERATURES RISE BY 2C RATHER THAN 1.5C

- Global sea levels will be 10cm higher by 2100

- The Arctic Ocean will be free of sea ice in summer once per decade, not once per century

- More than 99 per cent of coral reefs will decline, compared to 70 to 90 per cent

HOW TO LIMIT GLOBAL WARMING TO 1.5C

- The report warns the world is well off track to meet a 1.5C limit

- Rapid and far-reaching transitions are needed in land, energy, industry, buildings, transport and cities

- Global net human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) to fall by about 45 per cent from 2010 levels by 2030

- Any remaining CO2 emissions must be balanced by removing CO2 from the atmosphere

- Renewables should supply 70 to 80 per cent of electricity by 2050

(Source: The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report on Global Warming of 1.5C)