On UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report 2023 – Alarming countdown- All nations must strive for net zero carbon emissions

Source: The post on UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report 2023 has been created on the article “Alarming countdown – All nations must strive for net zero carbon emissions” published in “The Hindu” on 22nd November 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 Environment – Climate change.

News: The article discusses the recent United Nations Emissions Gap report titled “Broken Record” that highlights the world’s failure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. It warns that even with current commitments, temperatures could rise beyond safe levels, and urgent action is needed.

What are the key findings of UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report 2023?

The key findings of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Emissions Gap Report 2023 are:

Temperature Rise Projection: Even with full implementation of current climate action plans, the world is heading towards a 3°C temperature rise by 2100, compared to pre-industrial levels.

Insufficient Emission Reductions: Current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) would limit warming to 2.9°C, which is above the Paris Agreement’s goal of well below 2°C, and ideally 1.5°C.

Required Emission Cuts by 2030: To limit global warming to 2°C, emissions must be cut by 28%, and by 42% for the 1.5°C target.

Progress Since Paris Agreement: The 2016 edition of the report had projected a warming of up to 3.4 degrees Celsius in a business-as-usual scenario. However, according to the Emissions Gap Report 2023, the current projection for the increase in emissions by 2030 is about 3%. Still, this is not enough to meet the 1.5°C target.

Current Climate Effects: The world is already facing severe climatic events like heatwaves, floods, wildfires, and droughts with just 1.1°C of global warming. In 2023, there were 86 days with temperatures over 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and September was the hottest recorded month ever.

Global Emissions Trend: Global emissions rose by 1.2% in 2022 from 20221, nearly returning to pre-pandemic levels.

Source: UNEP

What are the major suggestions in the Emissions Gap Report 2023?

Phase-Out of Fossil Fuels and Shift to Renewable Energy: The report stresses the importance of rapidly phasing out coal, oil, and gas, and transitioning to renewable energy sources as critical steps in addressing climate change.

Ambitious Emission Reduction Targets: It recommends enhancing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to achieve a 28% reduction in emissions by 2030 for the 2°C target, and a 42% reduction for the 1.5°C goal.

Support for Developing Nations: The report calls for greater financial and technical support from high-income and high-emitting countries to aid developing nations in their transition to low-emission growth.

Addressing Overconsumption of Carbon Budget: It points out that developed countries have consumed over 80% of the global carbon budget, indicating a need for more equitable distribution and responsible usage.

Collective Global Action: The report underlines the importance of global cooperation and collective action to address the climate crisis effectively.

Source: UNEP

Terminology used:

Paris Agreement: The Paris Agreement is a global pact made in 2015, where countries commit to combat climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, and further aiming for 1.5 degrees, through national efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate impacts.

For more information on Paris Agreement read Article 1, Article2

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC): NDCs are non-binding commitments by each country under the Paris Agreement, detailing their specific plans to reduce national emissions and adapt to climate change. These contributions reflect each nation’s ambition for reducing greenhouse gases and are central to achieving the global climate action goals.

For more information on India’s NDC read here

Question for practice:

Discuss the key findings and major suggestions presented in the UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2023, emphasizing their significance in the context of global efforts to combat climate change.