The report, released October 6 by more than 70 scientists from nearly 30 countries, warns that warming beyond 1.5°C would raise the risk of lasting damage to oceans, glaciers and permafrost, although rapid cuts to emissions could still limit the harm.
The 2026/2027 edition of 10 New Insights in Climate Science summarizes research published from January 2025 to June 2026. It covers changes in the climate system and their economic, social and policy effects. The report says past emissions have already committed the planet to more sea-level rise and long-term ocean warming.
But how large those changes will eventually be depends on how quickly greenhouse-gas emissions fall. The report warns that lowering temperatures after warming rises above 1.5°C and later falls would not undo changes that take centuries to unfold in systems that respond slowly, including oceans, glaciers, ice sheets and permafrost. A larger overshoot would also mean greater reliance on removing carbon.
It would leave less room for adaptation, the authors say. The synthesis calls for deep cuts in emissions. It says climate planning must prepare for peak warming.
It also says the world must eventually move beyond net-zero emissions toward net-negative targets. The report highlights advances in attribution science, which can help connect specific climate harms to emissions from particular companies, countries or sectors. Overall, the scientists describe a shrinking window for action.
Some impacts are already unavoidable. But stronger action can still reduce future damage.