1.5 degrees Celsius.

Scientists cite that number over and over when talking about climate change.

It's the threshold by which temperatures should not increase on a rapidly warming planet

without risking things like mass extinctions and catastrophic sea level rise.

And the main driver of these rising

temperatures are greenhouse gases, the pollution emitted from

burning fossil fuels like oil and gas. Every year world leaders gather at

the conference of the parties, or cop, to devise solutions

to what amounts to a growing existential crisis for humankind.

We are miles from the goals of the Paris Agreement and minutes to midnight for the 1.5 degree limit,

but it is not too light.

We can, you can, prevent planetary crash and burn.

That's the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres,

speaking to world leaders at the opening of COP28 in Dubai.

The science is clear.

The 1.53 limit is only possible if we ultimately stop burning all fossil fuels.

Not reduce, not abate, phase out with a clear time frame aligned with 1.5 degrees.

But that goal is slipping.

Be flexible.

Find common ground.

Come forward with solutions and achieve consensus. And never lose sight of our North Star of 1.5.

That's Sultan Al-Jabber, the president of this year's climate talks, speaking at the opening of the climate summit,

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