UN urges 25% more emissions cut than Paris deal

The UN has urged governments to take immediate actions to cut a further 25% from predicted 2030 emissions to meet the 1.5°C target set in the Paris Agreement. In a […]

The UN has urged governments to take immediate actions to cut a further 25% from predicted 2030 emissions to meet the 1.5°C target set in the Paris Agreement.

In a report, it said the world is still heading for a temperature rise of 2.9°C to 3.4°C this century, even with the pledges made in Paris last year.

The landmark climate deal entered into force last week. It has been ratified by around 100 countries so far including the US, China, India and the EU.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May pledged the nation would ratify the agreement by the end of this year.

The UN’s ‘Emissions Gap’ report found 2030 emissions are expected to reach between 54 to 56 gigatonnes of Carbon Dioxide equivalent. The projected level needed to keep global warming from surpassing 2°C is 42 gigatonnes.

It also suggested action taken in different sectors such as transport and agriculture could further help reduce emissions and highlighted energy efficiency as key to achieving that too.

It said it is an area where investment could bring bigger gains as they increased by 6% to $221 billion (£176bn) in 2015, indicating “action is already happening”.

Erik Solheim, Head of UN Environment said: “If we don’t start taking additional action now, beginning with the upcoming climate meeting in Marrakesh, we will grieve over the avoidable human tragedy. The growing numbers of climate refugees hit by hunger, poverty, illness and conflict will be a constant reminder of our failure to deliver. The science shows that we need to move much faster.”

Latest Podcast