UNEP Report Highlights Urgency for Climate Action Ahead of UN Cop30 Talks
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has reported that the predicted global temperature rise this century has decreased slightly to 2.8C under current policies. However, the world is still on track for a significant increase in climate impacts. Progress in reducing emissions to limit dangerous global warming to 1.5C is not happening fast enough, according to the UNEP's annual report on the emissions gap.
The report indicates that the world is projected to experience long-term global warming of 2.8C under current policies, down from 3.1C last year. Even if countries fulfill their promised actions, temperature rises of 2.3C to 2.5C are expected. The upcoming withdrawal of the US from the Paris Agreement is likely to offset some progress, keeping global ambition levels stagnant.
As nations prepare for the UN Cop30 talks in Belem, Brazil, the focus will be on enhancing implementation efforts amidst growing geopolitical divisions on climate action. The Paris Agreement aims to limit temperature rises to below 2C and strive to keep them below 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. Scientists emphasize that any amount of climate change poses risks, with 1.5C considered a critical threshold for avoiding severe impacts.
Countries have outlined their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to reduce emissions and meet the Paris targets. However, less than a third of nations have submitted updated NDCs for the 2025-2035 period by the deadline. The majority have missed the deadline, indicating a lack of progress in meeting climate goals. The report warns that global temperatures are likely to exceed 1.5C temporarily, with global greenhouse gas emissions still on the rise.
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen stresses the need for unprecedented emissions cuts within a tight timeframe to address the climate crisis effectively. The report underscores the urgency of taking decisive action to limit global warming and mitigate its impacts.