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Source: The post is based on the article “Emissions Gap Report: World set to get warmer by nearly 3°C by end of century” published in “Indian Express” on 21st November 2023
Why in the News?
The Emissions Gap Report 2023 titled “Broken Record – Temperatures hit new highs” has been released.
What is the Emissions Gap Report?
| Specifications | Details |
| Released by | UN Environment Programme (UNEP) |
| Purpose | It tracks the gap between where global emissions are heading with current country commitments and where they ought to be to limit warming to 1.5°C. |
What are the key findings of Emissions Gap Report 2023?
| Specifications | Details |
| Increasing temperatures | In 2022, we had 86 days that surpassed the 1.5-degree Celsius temperature mark due to a record-breaking rise in global greenhouse gas emissions. |
| Progress made since Paris Agreement | There has been progress since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015. Greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 were projected to increase by 16% at the time of the agreement’s adoption. Today, the projected increase is 3 percent. However, predicted 2030 greenhouse gas emissions still must fall by 28% for the Paris Agreement 2°C pathway and 42% for the 1.5°C pathway. |
| Historical Inequality in emissions | Country wise: The United States of America accounts for 4 percent of the current world population but contributed 17 percent of global warming from 1850 to 2021 including the impact of methane and nitrous oxide emissions. India, by contrast, accounts for 18 percent of the world population, but till date only contributed 5 percent of warming. Population wise: Globally, the 10 percent of the population with the highest income accounted for nearly half (48 per cent) of emissions with two thirds of this group living in developed countries. The bottom 50 percent of the world population contributed only 12 percent of total emissions. |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | Global GHG emissions increased by 1.2 per cent from 2021 to 2022 to reach a new record of 57.4 gigatons of CO2 equivalent (GtCO2e). |
| Emissions of biggest emitters | The emissions of three biggest emitters China, United States and India has increased in 2022. But the emissions of the European Union, Russia and Brazil have gone down a bit. |
| Covid-19 impact | The Covid-19 slowdown in 2020 only reduced emissions by 4.7% from 2019, showing the limited impact of this pause. |
| Impact of inaction against Climate Change | 1) 2023 all set to emerge as the hottest ever, overtaking the previous record of 2016. 2) Almost every month of the year has set one or the other temperature record, with September emerging as the hottest month ever. 3) According to an assessment by the World Meteorological Organisation, one of the next four years is almost certain to breach the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold for the annual average as well. |
UPSC Syllabus: Environment
