As per the Emissions Gap report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), new national climate commitments are likely to fail to meet the Paris Agreement goals, which mainly includes keeping the global temperature under 1.5°C this century. As per the report, the world is on its way to reaching a 2.7°C mark. The only hope for this gratitude of warming to be curbed is if long term net-zero goals are met.
The report, now in its 12th year takes into consideration the nationally-determined contributions or NDCs, which are carbon-cutting plans submitted by 120 countries to the UN. UNEP also takes account of commitments to cut emissions that are not yet submitted in an NDC. This is done ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP, whose latest edition is set to be underway in a few days in Glasgow. The assessment of updated NDCs submitted by countries as of September 30 suggests that they only account for an extra reduction of 7.5 per cent in global greenhouse emissions by 2030 as opposed to previous commitments. This, however, is far from the need of the hour. To keep the global environment in check, it is important to keep a 1.5°C global temperature threshold within sight, as per scientists. To achieve this, about 55 per cent carbon cuts would be required by the same 2030 date, about seven times the present goals.
Inger Andersen, executive director of the UNEP said, “Climate change is no longer a future problem. It is a now problem. To stand a chance of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, we have eight years to almost halve greenhouse gas emissions: eight years to make the plans, put in place the policies, implement them and ultimately deliver the cuts. The clock is ticking loudly.”
He also went on to add the crucial role political leaders play in curbing global warming. "The emissions gap is the result of a leadership gap. But leaders can still make this a turning point to a greener future instead of a tipping point to climate catastrophe,” he added.
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