Final answer:
Carbon dioxide emissions must be reduced to achieve 'net zero' by 2050, according to the IPCC, in order to limit global warming to less than 2.0 degrees Celsius and prevent severe climate change impacts.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), an urgent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions is necessary to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. To avoid catastrophic outcomes, a widespread consensus among climate experts indicates that we need to limit the global temperature increase to less than 2.0 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels. In pursuit of this goal, the IPCC and other scientific bodies suggest that achieving 'net zero' carbon emissions by 2050 is critical. 'Net zero' implies that no more carbon dioxide is added to the atmosphere than is removed. This significant reduction would require a transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources, protecting and expanding forests, and implementing other carbon removal strategies.