- The world is not on track to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius due to inadequate climate action from committed nations, according to a Thursday report from the United Nations.
- The report revealed global greenhouse gas emissions increased to a record figure of over 57 gigatons in 2023, up 1.3% from the year before. This spike will require larger emissions cuts: The UN said about 7.5% of emissions must be shaved off each year until 2035 to make the 2015 climate accord’s target possible.
- The UN said current climate policies and pledges made by countries are “nowhere near” the level of ambition needed to slow down global warming. The global body warned that if this trajectory continues, the goal of “1.5°C will be dead within a few years.”
The report, authored by the UN Environment Programme, said countries must collectively commit to reducing 42% of their annual emissions by 2030 and 57% of emissions by 2035 in their enhanced reduction plans, or Nationally Determined Contributions. Nearly 200 countries are due to present their NDCs to the UN next year for the period of 2025-2035, nearly a decade after the Paris Agreement was first introduced.
“The next NDCs must deliver a quantum leap in ambition in tandem with accelerated mitigation action in this decade,” the Emissions Gap Report stated.
Failure to update these NDCs in a way that accelerates climate action puts the world on course for temperature increases of 2.6 to 3.1 degrees Celsius for the remainder of this century. Such increases would have a colossal impact on society, the planet and the economy, per the UNEP.
Though over 200 countries struck a landmark climate agreement at COP28 last year that called for a transition away from fossil fuels and the acceleration of renewable energy production, the UNEP report suggests little progress has been made to this end. Instead, global reliance on fossil fuels has only increased year-over-year, despite efforts to adopt clean energy alternatives.
The Oct. 24 report found that G20 members — which include some of the world’s largest economies, representing around 85% of the global GDP — minus the African Union, accounted for 77% of global emissions in 2023. China was the world’s top emitter (30%), followed by the United States (11%).
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said members of this international forum — especially those with a bigger carbon footprint — would need to do the “heavy lifting” when it comes to spurring climate action if the world is to get on track for a clean energy transition and, eventually, net-zero economies.
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The UN-backed reports come just a few weeks before the COP29 climate change summit, slated for Nov. 11-22 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Flashback: 2015: World leaders hail ‘historic’ Paris climate deal as ‘major leap for mankind’ –
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: “History will remember this day,” Ban Ki-moon said after the pact was gaveled through to thunderous applause. “The Paris agreement on climate change is a monumental success for the planet and its people.”
Al Gore on UN Paris pact in 2015: “Years from now, our grandchildren will reflect on humanity’s moral courage to solve the climate crisis and they will look to December 12, 2015, as the day when the community of nations finally made the decision to act,” Gore said.
The Washington Post in 2015 reported on the final passage of the Paris pact: ‘Cheers echoed up and down the tent city where thousands of journalists, activists and business leaders awaited news of the deal, which was sealed during the final 48 hours of nearly non-stop talks.”
WaPo reported: President Obama, in an appearance at the White House, hailed the agreement as a “turning point for the world,” adding, “We came together around the strong agreement the world needed. Together we’ve shown what’s possible when the world stands as one.”
Secretary of State John F. Kerry said after the accord was announced: “This is a tremendous victory for all of our citizens–not for any one country or bloc, but a victory for all of the planet, and for future generations.” “The world has come together behind an agreement that will empower us to chart a new path for our planet: a smart and responsible path, a sustainable path.”
Economist Lord Stern added: “This is a historic moment, not just for us but for our children, our grandchildren and future generations. The Paris agreement is a turning point in the world’s fight against unmanaged climate change which threatens prosperity.
Former French president, François Hollande, said: “This is a major leap for mankind.”
Fmr. British prime minister, David Cameron, also welcomed the deal, praising those involved for showing what ambition and perseverance could do. “We’ve secured our planet for many, many generations to come – and there is nothing more important than that,” he said.
French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius: “History is coming, in fact, history is here,” he said. “On 12 December 2015, we can have a historic day, a major date to go down in the history of mankind. The date can become a message of life.”
Newsweek OPED: THE PARIS AGREEMENT WILL SAVE OUR LIVES
