Brace for Trump’s Brave New World of 1.7°C Global Warming

Published: 19 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

A stark climate analysis warns that the world is rapidly approaching a new era of global warming of around 1.7°C above pre‑industrial levels, a threshold that scientists say could make the impacts of climate change much more visible and damaging to economies, ecosystems and human life — and critics blame recent political shifts, including actions by US President Donald Trump, for weakening efforts to curb emissions and pushing the world further away from the goals of the Paris Agreement.

According to a study highlighted in commentary by The Telegraph, climate scientists — including veterans such as Jim Hansen of Columbia University — estimate that global temperatures could reach a 1.7°C average increase as soon as next year, particularly as cyclical weather patterns such as the shift from La Niña to El Niño add extra heat to already warming global trends. This projection reflects a broader pattern of rising temperatures globally, with recent years often breaking records and exceeding earlier scientific models.

The discussion arrives at a politically charged moment, with the Trump administration taking major steps to dismantle key US climate regulations, including moves to revoke scientific findings that underpinned emissions rules and significantly roll back federal authority to regulate greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. Critics argue that these deregulatory actions — which have drawn strong condemnation from scientists and environmental groups — will reduce the United States’ contribution to emissions reduction efforts just as global warming edges closer to thresholds once considered avoidable.

Economists and climate experts caution that each fraction of a degree of warming matters: staying closer to the 1.5°C target outlined in the Paris Agreement is widely seen as important for reducing the severity of extreme weather events, sea‑level rise and ecological disruption, while a rise to 1.7°C or higher could amplify these impacts significantly. Current climate models — backed by assessments from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) — indicate that even with existing pledges, global average temperature rise is likely to exceed 2°C later this century without rapid and dramatic emissions cuts.

Environmental scientists highlight that climate warming is already affecting weather patterns, ocean heat content and ice melt, with accelerating warming trends in recent decades tied directly to human‑induced emissions of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases. Although there is still technical debate about specific short‑term temperature spikes, the overall direction is clear: without stronger global action, warming beyond 1.5°C toward 1.7°C and above carries heightened risks for agriculture, infrastructure and biodiversity.

Supporters of stronger climate action argue that policies promoting renewable energy, electrification of transport and rapid decarbonisation in major economies are essential to slow the pace of warming and limit the worst consequences of climate change. Critics of Trump’s climate stance counter that rolling back environmental protections will undermine decades of progress and make it harder for the global community to coordinate effective responses.

As the world edges toward a “brave new world” of near‑2°C warming scenarios, the gap between political will and scientific urgency remains at the centre of international climate debates — with significant implications for future generations, global food security, and the resilience of communities around the world.

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