Nina Chestney

LONDON (Reuters) – Current commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions put the planet on track for an average 2.7 degrees Celsius temperature rise this century, a United Nations report said on Tuesday, in another stark warning ahead of crunch climate talks https://www.reuters.com/business/cop.

The COP26 conference in Copenhagen will see the government spotlight next week. It is the last opportunity to set a time limit for this year and make even more drastic cuts.

In August, the U.N. warned of global warming from greenhouse gas emissions as extreme weather phenomena such as wildfires or floods have threatened countries all over the world.

Boris Johnson the British Prime Minister said that Monday was “touch and forget” about whether or not the U.N.’s most crucial round of talks since 2015’s Paris Agreement, will be able to secure climate-change agreements.

U.N. World Meteorological Organization (UNWMO) stated ahead of Sunday’s two-week event in Glasgow that global greenhouse gas concentrations have reached record levels last year, and that it is still “way off course” to limit rising temperatures.

According to UNEP’s annual report on “emissions gaps”, which tracks the difference between expected emissions and emissions that are consistent with mitigating the rise in temperature this century, the UNEP reported that updated pledges have only reduced 2030 emission forecasts by 7.5% compared to previous commitments.

This would result in a warming rate of 2.7C if it is continued for the remainder of this century. It’s slightly lower than what UNEP predicted in its previous report (3C). For 1.5C to be stopped, we need a 30 percent cut and a 55 % cut.

The report stated that current commitments to net-zero could reduce global warming by around 2.2C by 2030, however the pledges for 2030 so far have not provided any clear pathway to major emitters.

WAKE-UP CALL

The U.N. has just released data showing that 143 nations, which account for 57% of the global emission, submitted updated plans to reduce their emissions before COP26. If implemented completely, their emissions would be approximately 9% lower than 2010.

If all 192 countries pledges under the Paris Agreement is taken together, a rise of about 16% global emissions by 2030 is anticipated compared with 2010, which would result in a warming of approximately 2.7C.

This report is yet another wake-up call. How many do we need? According to U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, the emissions gap results from a leadership deficit.

China and India are jointly responsible for 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions. However, they have not made any additional pledges.

The era of empty promises and half-measures must come to an end. Glasgow must be the place to close the gap in leadership.

The report stated that to achieve the 1.5C limit by 2030, greenhouse gas emissions must fall by 28 gigatonnes of additional CO2 equivalent per year or be reduced to half of current levels (roughly 60 Gt), in addition to what was promised in the updated pledges.

An additional 13 Gt annual emission cut is required to reach 2C by 2030.

Inger Andersen, UNEP’s executive director, stated that there are eight years for the preparation of the plans and implementation of the policies.

“The clock ticks loudly.”