Nations must close huge emissions gap in new climate pledges and deliver immediate action, or 1.5°C lost pixabay.
This is according to a recently released report, by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), titled “UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report 2024: No more hot air … please!”
The report concluded that it is still technically possible to meet the 1.5°C goal, but only with a G20-led massive global mobilization to cut all greenhouse gas emissions, starting today.
According to the report, continuation of current policies will lead to a catastrophic temperature rise of up to 3.1°C.
Current commitments for 2030 are not being met; even if they are met, temperature rise would only be limited to 2.6-2.8°C.
António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, in a video message on the report said “there is a direct link between increasing emissions and increasing frequent and intense climate disasters. Around the world, people are paying a terrible price. Record emissions mean record sea temperatures supercharging monster hurricanes; record heat is turning forests into tinder boxes and cities into saunas; record rains are resulting in biblical floods.”
He said therefore, nations must collectively commit to cutting 42 per cent off annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and 57 per cent by 2035 in the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and back this up with rapid action or the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal will be gone within a few years.
Updated NDCs are expected to be submitted early next year ahead of the COP30 climate talks in Brazil.
The 2.6°C scenario is based on the full implementation of current unconditional and conditional NDCs.
“Today’s Emissions Gap report is clear: we’re playing with fire; but there can be no more playing for time. We’re out of time. Closing the emissions gap means closing the ambition gap, the implementation gap, and the finance gap. Starting at COP29″ said Guterres.
The report also looks at what it would take to get on track to limiting global warming to below 2°C. For this pathway, emissions must fall 28 per cent by 2030 and 37 per cent from 2019 levels by 2035.
“Climate crunch time is here. We need global mobilization on a scale and pace never seen before, starting right now, before the next round of climate pledges or the 1.5°C goal will soon be dead and well below 2°C will take its place in the intensive care unit” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP.
Andersen also said “I urge every nation: no more hot air, please. Use the upcoming COP29 talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, to increase action now, set the stage for stronger NDCs, and then go all-out to get on a 1.5°C pathway.
Even if the world overshoots 1.5°C and the chances of this happening are increasing every day, we must keep striving for a net-zero, sustainable and prosperous world. Every fraction of a degree avoided counts in terms of lives saved, economies protected, damages avoided, biodiversity conserved and the ability to rapidly bring down any temperature overshoot.”
The 1.5°C goal is still technically possible, but massive effort is needed.
Picture: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images