CBER External Seminar - Dr Andreas Meyer, University of Cape Town

Abstract: Temperature overshoot pathways entail exceeding a specified global warming level (e.g., 1.5°C or 2°C) followed by a decline to or below that level, achieved through human-enhanced removal of CO2 from the atmosphere. Although temperature overshoot pathways could lead us to a “safe” destination, risks to biodiversity from the overshoot journey are poorly described. In this talk, I will explore risks to biodiversity from a 2°C overshoot scenario. I will present results from simulations that quantified the dynamics of exposure and de-exposure to potentially dangerous temperatures for more than 30,000 species globally, which showed that overshooting 2°C could cause irreversible changes. I will also explore the potential impacts on biodiversity from large-scale carbon dioxide removal deployment.