World severely off track to limit planet-heating emissions: U.N

Last Updated16/11/2023

Recently, the United Nations (UN) released a report, criticizing global efforts to address climate change as inadequate.
The assessment comes just ahead of crucial climate negotiations and emphasizes the urgent need for decisive action to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

The report reveals that current climate pledges from nearly 200 nations would only result in a 2% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 compared to 2019 levels.

This falls significantly short of the 43% reduction recommended by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
- To meet the Paris Agreement's target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre industrial levels.

The UN Secretary-General emphasises the need for a "climate ambition supernova" in every country, city, and sector, stressing the inadequacy of gradual progress.

Under the Paris Agreement, countries are required to submit more ambitious emission-cutting plans (NDCs).
The report assesses 20 updated NDCs submitted between September 2022 and September 2023.
Emissions are projected to be 8.8% higher in 2030 compared to 2010, showcasing only fractional improvement since the previous report.

The response to a global stocktake will be a focal point at the COP28 meeting.
The world's progress in averting severe climate impacts is deemed off-target, with global greenhouse gas emissions needing to peak by 2025.

Planned production increases in major petrostates, as per a UN Environment Programme report, could result in significantly higher fossil fuel production, exacerbating emissions.
The report stresses the critical nature of the response to the stocktake, representing the only chance to align future climate targets (due by 2025) with the necessary actions.
The UN report underscores the imperative for immediate, comprehensive climate action to prevent surpassing global warming limits and mitigate severe climate consequences.