Sumi Mary Thomas
Abstract
The relationship between cumulative carbon dioxide emissions and global temperature rise represents one of the most robust and consequential findings in climate science. This paper examines the historical emissions record from 1750 to the present, demonstrating that cumulative emissions determine the ultimate magnitude of global warming. Drawing on the Global Carbon Budget 2024, IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, and national emissions datasets, this analysis traces the evolution of anthropogenic CO2 emissions, documents the profound disparities in national contributions, and assesses the rapidly shrinking remaining carbon budget. The paper argues that historical emissions constitute a âcumulative carbon ledgerâ- an enduring atmospheric debt that shapes both the physical reality of contemporary climate change and the political framework of climate justice.