The Paris Climate Agreement, where 195 nations came together in 2016 under the shared goal of improving climate change by limiting global temperature rises to less than 2 degrees Celsius, was a major achievement. However, many have wondered since then if it is scientifically achievable.

Unfortunately, the odds are not looking good.

New research by Dick Startz, a professor in UC Santa Barbara's Department of Economics, suggests that it is highly improbable for the world to meet the global temperature objectives agreed.

The research speculates that there is a 95% chance that global temperatures will increase by more than 2 degrees and a less than 1% chance they will not exceed 1.5 degrees.

The researchers discovered that the major factor contributing to climate change over time was not population growth but carbon intensity which is the measure of carbon dioxide per unit of total domestic product.

So can anything thwart the warming of the Earth? Startz points to two possible but also challenging solutions: significant technological advances or putting a high price tag on pollution.

Startz stated that he still hopes his predictions prove incorrect for the sake of the planet.

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