World To Be Warmer By Nearly 3 Degrees Celsius, Says UN Report

A United Nations report released on Monday indicates that, even if countries fully execute their nationally-determined contributions (NDCs) or action plans aimed at curbing the emission of planet-warming gases, the world is on track for a temperature increase of approximately 3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the close of the century.

New Scientist

What happened?

The annual Emissions Gap report, which assesses countries' promises to tackle climate change compared with what is needed, finds the world faces between 2.5¡ãC and 2.9¡ãC of warming above pre-industrial levels if governments do not boost climate action.

Where and when?

The report released ahead of the 28th session of the annual UN climate talks or COP28 in Dubai on Monday said global emissions rose by 1.2 per cent in 2021-2022.

Unsplash

How can it be controlled?

To restrain global warming to 2 degrees Celsius, nations must reduce emissions by 28 per cent, and to achieve the 1.5 degrees Celsius target, a reduction of 42 per cent is required, as outlined in the United Nations Environment Programme's Emissions Gap Report 2023, titled "Broken Record."

"Fully implementing efforts implied by unconditional Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) would put the world on track for limiting temperature rise to 2.9 degrees Celsius. Conditional NDCs fully implemented would lead to temperatures not exceeding 2.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels," the report read.

"We know it is still possible to make the 1.5 degree limit a reality. It requires tearing out the poisoned root of the climate crisis: fossil fuels. And it demands a just, equitable renewables transition," said Antš°nio Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN.

The report calls for all nations to deliver economy-wide, low-carbon development transformations, with a focus on energy transition.

The Guardian

But, why is it happening?

Despite the progress, the world is very far from limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius to avoid extreme, destructive and likely irreversible effects of climate change, the UN said.

The world is already experiencing unprecedented heat, floods, wildfires, cyclones, and droughts at just 1.1 degrees of global warming.

The report said the coal, oil, and gas extracted over the production lifetime and the planned mines and fields would emit more than three-and-a-half times the carbon budget available to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and almost the entire budget available for 2 degrees Celsius.

Who is responsible?

Developed countries have already consumed over 80 per cent of the global carbon budget, leaving countries like India with very little carbon space for the future.

"Countries with greater capacity and responsibility for emissions -- particularly high-income and high-emitting countries among the G20 -- will need to take more ambitious and rapid action and provide financial and technical support to developing nations. As low- and middle-income countries already account for more than two-thirds of global GHG emissions, meeting development needs with low-emissions growth is a priority in such nations -- such as addressing energy demand patterns and prioritising clean energy supply chains," it said.

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