PARIS: The United Nations announced on Thursday that countries have only a few months to enhance their climate strategies and emphasized the need for significant global action to prevent catastrophic warming.
The UN Environment Programme released its annual Emissions Gap report ahead of the COP29 climate talks in Azerbaijan, stressing the approaching deadline for nations to revise and strengthen their carbon reduction commitments.
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The UN highlighted the urgency of new targets, stating that existing climate plans are leading the world toward disastrous warming with dire consequences for humanity and the environment. Emissions continue to rise when they need to decrease significantly and urgently.
Current Situation
In 2023, planet-warming emissions, primarily from burning fossil fuels and activities like agriculture and deforestation, increased by 1.3% compared to the previous year, reaching a record high of 57.1 billion tons of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. Maintaining the target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels requires cutting emissions by over 40% by 2030, translating to a 9% annual reduction, according to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
For context, emissions fell by around 5% in 2020 due to unprecedented lockdowns and travel restrictions.
Major Contributors
The G20 nations, excluding the African Union, accounted for 77% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2023, with China (30%), the US (11%), and India (8%) contributing nearly half of all emissions. The 27-member European Union produced 6%, while only the US and EU reported reductions last year. In contrast, emissions from China and India increased by 5.2% and 6.1%, respectively.
Commitments Needed
Nearly 200 countries have made formal climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which should be updated every five years. UNEP urged nations to demonstrate a “quantum leap” in ambition, as fulfilling current NDCs would still result in a devastating 2.6 degrees Celsius increase in global temperatures by 2100. Current policies indicate a potential rise of 3.1 degrees Celsius.
Historical Responsibility
From 1850 to 2022, the US has the largest carbon footprint, contributing 20% of total emissions, while China and the EU each account for 12%. India contributes 3% over this 172-year period, according to UNEP data.
