UN warns: ‘Critical time has come’ as world approaches 3.1C warming

Unless countries step up their climate policies, the world could warm by 3.1C this century, leading to a “catastrophic” increase in extreme weather events, including heat waves and floods, the UN environmental agency has warned.

Released: 25.10.2024 – 13:26Changed: 25.10.2024 – 13:29

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Even if all existing emissions reduction commitments were fully met, temperatures would still rise by at least 2.6°C above pre-industrial levels, well above the 1.5°C target set in Paris Agreement 2015.

This will have devastating consequences in the form of increased heat waves, forest fires, storms, droughts and floods, the annual UN report says. Emissions Gap Reportreleased Thursday.

“The time for a climate crisis has come,” said UNEP Director Inger Andersen. “We need global mobilization at a scale and pace never seen before, starting now, before the next round of climate pledges.”

Without action to quickly and radically reduce emissions, “the 1.5°C warming target will soon be dead.”

The warning serves as a wake-up call just weeks before political leaders gather in Azerbaijan for Cop29 Climate Summit.

Human factor

The report says countries must collectively cut emissions by 42 percent by 2030 compared to 2019 levels to keep global temperatures under 1.5°C.

But new data showed global greenhouse gas emissions increased 1.3 percent last year, with human activities creating 57.1 billion tons of greenhouse gases. CO2.

“We are seeing a slowing trend, moving towards a plateau in emissions, but they are still rising,” Anne Ohlhoff, the report’s editor-in-chief, told RFI.

Despite mass introduction of renewable energy sources“Economic growth is pushing energy demand up,” while fossil fuel consumption remains high, she said.

“The impacts of climate change are also impacting the ability to provide low-carbon energy. For example, droughts have affected hydroelectricity production.”

The G20 group of major economies, which accounts for about 80 percent of global emissions, has a special responsibility to reduce emissions, the report says.

Seven G20 countries, including China and India, have not yet reached their peak emissions. China remains the world’s largest emitter, accounting for 30 percent of global emissions, followed by the United States with 11 percent.

More investment needed

The report estimates that emissions could be reduced by 31 gigatons by 2030 through existing technologies and measures. Solar and wind energy alone can provide 27 percent of the required emissions reductions by 2030.

However, this will require a significant increase in investment: from $900 to $2.1 trillion annually until 2050.

The countries agreed to submit new plans to cut carbon emissions, known as nationally determined contributions, by February 2025 – ahead of the Cop30 summit in Brazil.