OVERSHOOT

Referring to surpassing the 1.5 °C limit. As scientists and policymakers delve into strategies for remaining below a 1.5 °C temperature increase, the majority of hopeful projections anticipate exceeding this threshold by the middle of the century, potentially persisting for several decades or beyond. Some politicians say we can “overshoot” targets like 1.5 °C and implement solutions after that point to bring us back down to those targets. This concept fails to take into account feedback loops like carbon sinks becoming carbon emission sources. Overshoot assumes you can go backwards, but it’s not a certainty.