net zero

New research covered in The Conversation warns that extreme El Niño events will become more frequent as the planet warms, bringing severe droughts, floods and heatwaves. The key takeaway: cutting emissions to net zero sooner would limit warming and reduce the number of these destructive climate events the world faces this century.

New research indicates that reaching net zero carbon emissions sooner would limit a long-lasting El Niño-like shift in Pacific Ocean circulation and temperatures. The study suggests that rapid emissions cuts could prevent or reduce a persistent pattern that would otherwise alter rainfall and weather patterns across the Pacific region and beyond, underscoring the benefits of acting quickly on climate change.

A new study in Communications Earth & Environment finds that ocean thermal inertia can sustain a shift in the tropical Pacific's mean climate state even after the world reaches net zero carbon emissions. The research suggests the tropical Pacific may not return to its previous pattern quickly, with implications for rainfall, drought and storm patterns across the region and beyond.

New research published in Nature finds that ocean thermal inertia could keep a shifted mean state in the tropical Pacific locked in even after humanity reaches net zero carbon emissions. The study suggests some climate changes in the region may be effectively irreversible on human timescales, with implications for weather patterns, fisheries and sea-level planning worldwide.