While delegates at the COP30 conference in Brazil argue over whether ‘a transition away from fossil fuels’ should even be on the agenda, a forecaster gave a stark warning of what is at stake.

There has been much discussion of whether it is now truly possible to limit warming to 1.5°C above the pre-industrial climate, as pledged in the Paris Agreement ten years ago.

Forecaster Jim Dale told Metro people can be misled by the numbers, as they sound relatively small.

But he gave a metaphor which is all the more apt in flu season: ‘You only have to take your own body.

‘Small increments make a massive distance’

‘If you, at 36.5°C average, were to to go up 1.5°C, you’d be in bed. You’d be feeling ill. Go up 2.5°C, you’d be in hospital.

‘Go up 3°C… you’d be dead [if it was for any sustained

See Full Page