United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) emphasized in a new reporteven though legally binding promise was introduced at the Paris Climate Conference in 2015 to prevent average temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Unpleasant truth
Inger Andersen, Chief Executive Officer, said: “This report tells us in cold scientific terms what nature has told us throughout the year, through floods, storms and raging fires. : we have to stop filling our atmosphere with greenhouse gases, and stop doing that fast. UNEP Director.
“We had the opportunity to make incremental changes, but that time has passed. Only a transition from the roots and branches of our economies and societies can save us from accelerating climate catastrophe.”
Despite promises of a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in favor of reducing their carbon footprint, the commitments made since the last climate summit in Glasgow in 2021 will lead to cuts less than one percent projected greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, according to UNEP.
Mitigation
According to UNEP calculations, this is equivalent to only 0.5 gigatonnes of CO2. only one 45 percent Reducing emissions would limit global warming to 1.5C.
As of today, the latest data indicates that the world is watching an increase in temperature between 2.4C and 2.6C by the end of this century.
“In the best-case scenario, full implementation of the unconditional NDCs and net zero-emissions additional commitments only increase by 1.8C, so there is hope. However, this scenario is currently unreliable based on the difference between current emissions, the short-term NDC target, and the long-term target of zero,” said UNEP.
Solutions that do not contain fossil fuels
For the situation to ameliorate, a “large-scale, rapid” and fossil-free shake-up of the “power supply, industry, transport and buildings sectors as well as energy systems is needed.” our food and finance” to cut emissions 45 parts United Nations agency explains percent to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and 30% to keep average temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius, the UN agency explained.
And while the transition towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions is already underway in power supply, industry, transport and buildings, it needs to move “much faster,” the report said. conclusion.
A woman wades through floodwaters in Jakusko, in Yobe state, Nigeria.
It shows that switching power supplies has made the most progress in a number of countries, amid a significant drop in renewable electricity prices.
“It’s a tall order, and some say it’s impossible to reform the global economy and cut greenhouse gas emissions by almost half by 2030, but we must try,” Ms Andersen said. “. “Every fraction of the scale matters: for vulnerable communities, for species and ecosystems, and for each of us.”
Food system reform
UNEP goes on to say that there is a need for rapid and lasting reductions in emissions in the food-producing industries, as this accounts for about a third of greenhouse gases.
It notes that action in four areas – protecting natural ecosystems, changing diets, improving farm food production and decarbonizing the food supply chain – will reduce our emissions. food system by 2050 to about a third of current levels.
