Tropical nations trapped in heat even if world hits net zero
Australian scientists found tropical regions will warm longer than wealthy nations even if emissions reach net zero.
Dr Andrew King led a team at the University of Melbourne. They studied how temperatures will change if the world reaches net zero emissions.
Tropical areas, where poorer nations are, have warmed more than higher latitudes. Yet they caused less of the warming crisis.
Even when emissions hit net zero, this inequality won't reverse for many decades. Dr King said: "The wealthier countries that caused more of the problem are not those most exposed.
The regions that have not caused the warming experience the most." Research published in Environmental Research Letters shows this.
Getting to net zero sooner would limit this harm.
- Dr Andrew King, University of Melbourne
- Research lead
- Environmental Research Letters
- Published in
- 2015
- Paris agreement
- Many decades after net zero
- Recovery timeline
Why it mattersThe world's poorest people caused the least warming. Yet they will suffer the longest from it. This holds true even if climate targets are met.
AustraliaAustralian scientists leading climate research that affects policy on Australia's Paris agreement commitments and development aid priorities.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 d ago
