To evaluate whether observed rates of GDP growth and CO2 emissions decoupling in high-income countries meet emission reduction pathways required by the Paris Agreement.
Conducted an empirical analysis comparing historical GDP trends and CO2 emissions in high-income countries.
Assessed achieved decoupling trajectories against decarbonization benchmarks compliant with Paris Agreement climate targets.
Quantifies the gap between empirically observed CO2–GDP decoupling rates and required Paris-compliant reduction trajectories.
Demonstrates that current rates of decoupling in high-income economies remain insufficient to align with international climate stabilization goals.