Graphic
Emissions cuts, carbon removal, and SRM
Emissions cuts and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) tackle the root cause of climate change, and sunlight reflection methods (SRM) could limit warming while they work.
GLOBAL TEMPERATURE INCREASE
No emissions cuts
Temperatures would continue to rise.
Cut emissions
Eliminating CO2 emissions would stop global warming, but not reverse it.
4.0°C
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0
2000
2100
2200
2300
2400
Reflect sunlight
SRM could offset global warming while emissions cuts and CDR work.
Remove carbon
CDR could then slowly lower temperatures.
Source: Based on Boselius et al. (2025), Oxford Open Climate Change
GLOBAL TEMPERATURE INCREASE
4.0°C
No emissions cuts
Temperatures would continue to rise.
CUT EMISSIONS
Eliminating CO2 emissions would stop global warming, but not reverse it.
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
REMOVE CARBON
CDR could then slowly lower temperatures.
1.5
REFLECT SUNLIGHT
SRM could offset global warming while emissions cuts and CDR work.
1.0
0.5
2000
2050
2100
2150
2200
2250
2300
2350
2400
Source: Based on Boselius et al. (2025), Oxford Open Climate Change