What we’ve learned about our climate since 2015

Ice drops off the front of a glacier. Credit: Adobe Stock

Now that the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP 28) has come to a close, we wanted to highlight some of the things we’ve observed and learned about our climate since the last major climate agreement was signed in 2015. Known as the Paris Agreement, it was adopted by 196 countries including the United States at COP 25 in Paris. The agreement was notable in that it set out a goal to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C ( 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit).

At NOAA Research, we have learned a lot about how our climate functions, while also still serving as one of the primary entities responsible for monitoring greenhouse gas concentrations in our atmosphere. Learn more below about some distinct things we have learned about our climate, how carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in our atmosphere continue to rise, and how the costs from climate-related extreme events are increasing significantly.