Current climate actions are insufficient to limit global temperature rises

What is the Paris Agreement? And why is it so important?

The Paris Agreement is an international treaty that has one main objective: to reduce global warming. In practice, it seeks to prevent a 2ºC increase in global temperature in relation to the pre-industrial era, encouraging the creation of mechanisms to reduce the impact of climate change and the replacement of sources that emit greenhouse gases. O Curto explains more about one of the most important climate commitments in existence, quick game. 🤓

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said it is time for a “supernova” of climate ambition in every country, city and sector. “Inch-by-inch progress will not be enough,” he warns.

More urgent action

Even with increased efforts by some countries, the report shows that much more action is needed now to tilt the world's emissions trajectory further downward and avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell warns that the document shows that governments are taking timid steps to avoid the climate crisis. 

For him, governments need to take “bold steps” at COP28 in Dubai, which should be “a clear turning point”. Simon Stiell adds that governments must not only agree to stronger climate action, but also start showing exactly how to implement it.

Slow progress

According to Stiell, the Global Assessment report released by the UN on Climate Change this year clearly shows where progress is very slow. 

However, he assesses that it also presents the wide range of tools and solutions proposed by countries. The executive secretary believes billions of people hope to see their governments take this toolbox and put it to work

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicates that greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced by 43% by 2030, compared to 2019 levels. 

This measure is crucial to limit temperature rise to 1,5 degrees Celsius by the end of this century and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, including droughts, heat waves and more frequent and severe rains.

Increase in emissions

In his message, António Guterres highlights that, according to current national plans, global greenhouse gas emissions are scheduled to increase by 9% by 2030, compared to 2010 levels. 

Stiell added that “every fraction of a degree matters” but that the data shows “we are seriously off course.” He believes that COP28 is the time to change that.

For him, “it’s time to show the massive benefits of bolder climate action: more jobs, higher wages, economic growth, opportunity and stability, less pollution and better health.”

Result

In line with the findings of last year's analysis, the report shows that although emissions are no longer rising after 2030 compared to 2019 levels, they are still not demonstrating the rapid downward trend that science says is needed this decade.

If the latest national contributions are implemented, current commitments will increase emissions by about 8,8% compared to 2010 levels. 

According to the UN, the total represents a marginal improvement on last year's assessment, which found that countries were on track to increase emissions by 10,6% by 2030, compared with 2010 levels.

By 2030, emissions are projected to be 2% lower than 2019 levels, highlighting that global emissions will peak this decade.

COP28

For the president chosen to lead the COP28, Sultan Al Jaber, the study on national climate plans highlights the need to “act with greater ambition and urgency to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement”,

He adds that “there is no more time for delays” and reinforces that COP28 “must be a historic turning point” to expand commitment and ambition in pursuit of results that keep the 1,5ºC target within reach.

(With UN News)

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