Running out of time: UN report shows Earth on 'catastrophic' global warming path

The planet is heading towards warming of 2.7 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century, as per a UN report. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stated the planet's current path is 'catastrophic'.

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India Today Web Desk 

New Delhi

September 19, 2021

UPDATED: September 19, 2021 13:29 IST

A wildfire in Northern California in August 2021. (Photo: AP/PTI file)

The planet is heading towards warming of 2.7 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century, as per a new report on global emissions targets by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

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According to scientists, global temperatures should remain less than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels in order to prevent the worse consequences of the climate crisis, a CNN report said.

Commenting on the report, UN Secretary General António Guterres said the planet’s current path is ‘catastrophic’.

“This is breaking the promise made six years ago to pursue the 1.5 degree Celsius goal of the Paris Agreement. Failure to meet this goal will be measured in the massive loss of lives and livelihoods,” Guterres said.

He added, “We have the tools to achieve this target. But we are rapidly running out of time.”

CURRENT SITUATION

The planet needs to reduce its emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 to reach carbon neutrality by the middle of the century, scientists have said.

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As per the current emissions commitments from countries, there will be a 16 per cent increase in emissions in 2030 when compared to the 2010 level. This will lead to warming of 2.7 degrees above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century, according to the report.

An August report stated that global temperature had already reached 1.2 degrees of warming.

The real-life consequences of this have manifested themselves while western US and southern Europe were battered by wildfires this summer, China and Germany witnessed devastating floods.

‘EVERYONE MUST ASSUME RESPONSIBILITIES’

UN Secretary General António Guterres, at the Major Economies Forum on Friday, said the UN climate conference to be held in November has a "high risk of failure." During the conference, world leaders will be discussing emission targets.

"It is clear that everyone must assume their responsibilities," Guterres said. He urged all nations to set out more ambitious climate targets, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), in order to make the 1.5 degrees goal more conquerable.

UN Secretary General António Guterres appealed to developed nations to act on the decade-long $100 billion promise to support developing countries with their commitments.

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The NDCs consist of information on targets, climate policies and measures for reducing national greenhouse gas emissions. They also lay out the economic and technological requirements of meeting the targets.

As per the UN’s NDC registry, there are 191 parties to the Paris Agreement and they have all submitted their first NDC. However, less than 60 per cent of them have submitted an updated NDC.

‘ALL NATIONS MUST ACT TOGETHER’

"Those nations which have submitted new and ambitious climate plans are already bending the curve of emissions downwards by 2030,” said Alok Sharma, the incoming COP26 President.

"But without action from all countries, especially the biggest economies, these efforts risk being in vain. Ambitious climate action can avoid the most devastating effects of climate change, but only if all nations act together," he added.

On Friday, US President Joe Biden announced that the United States and European Union have launched a global pledge to reduce emissions of methane by nearly 30 per cent by the end of the decade.

Additionally, the energy and climate ministers of Denmark and Costa Rica have announced an initiative to encourage nations to move away from oil and gas production.