The Glasgow conference yielded collective pledges by governments to “phase out” carbon use, limit deforestation, advance rehabilitation to developing countries hit hardest by floods, heatwaves and droughts and return next year with more ambitious reduction targets of emissions. While the proliferation of clean energy is likely to have averted the apocalyptic climate meltdown, where the world is warming by an average of 4-5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial times, a series of UN reports has made it clear that the world is lagging far behind. its efforts to reduce emissions, with no “credible pathway” to avoid exceeding the agreed limit of 1.5C on global warming. Cop27: the climate carnage we faced this year – video This century, 2.5 degrees Celsius is likely below current commitments, a scenario that would bring, as the United Nations ruefully stated, “endless suffering.” As climate talks begin in Sharm el-Sheikh this week, the finding is sobering. “The last year has been a missed opportunity by many countries,” said David Waskow, director of the international climate initiative at the World Resources Institute, which recommends eliminating carbon six times faster than it is today and that people they don’t eat more. meat equivalent to two burgers a week to meet the 1.5C target. “There is progress, but there is much to be done, faster and deeper,” he said. “We’re seeing progress with renewable energy and electric vehicles – but even with that we’re not on track. Everything has to move at a faster clip.” Waskow said the world was caught in a “polycrisis” of war and rising energy and food costs, as well as severe climate impacts, which prevented any focus on global warming. “There has been some modest progress in reducing methane and deforestation since last year, but not as quickly as I would like,” he said. “I think there will be a lot of talk about the climate impact at Cop27 because it’s right in our face now. It has to be recognized that we are not going to a fun place – 2.5C is not going to be fun for anyone.” Below, we look at five key commitments made at Cop26 and what progress has been made towards achieving them.
Emissions cuts
graphic policy promises Cop26 ended with an agreement that governments would “review and strengthen” their plans to reduce planet-warming emissions ahead of the 2022 conference. According to the UN, however, just 24 of 193 countries have submitted improved emission reduction targets since then. Global emissions must be halved by 2030 if warming of 1.5C or more is to be avoided. However, on our current path they are likely to increase by more than 10%, compared to 2010 levels.
Reaching net zero emissions
net zero map By 2050, the world must eliminate all carbon emissions from power generation, transport, industry, agriculture and other non-offset sources if catastrophic climate change is to be avoided, scientists have warned. A net zero future was officially embraced by 74 countries at Cop26. Since then, seven others, including Indonesia and South Africa, have pledged to reach that point by mid-century. The most important stories on the planet. Get all the week’s environmental news – the good, the bad and the must-haves Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Climate finance
climate finance graphic As of 2020, there is an overdue bill hanging over the leaders of rich countries. A total of $100 billion a year was committed to developing countries, many of which are struggling to adapt to the damage caused by the climate crisis and need help moving away from fossil fuels. Despite increasing pressure on Cop26, likely again in Egypt, this overall goal has not been achieved. Developed countries are still about $17 billion short of the target, according to a report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development in July. A separate analysis released by Oxfam is more damning: only $21 billion has been mobilized, with 70% of that in the form of loans, it says.
Methane
methane graph At Cop26, 103 countries pledged to collectively reduce methane emissions to 30% below 2020 levels by the end of the decade. In the past year, 19 more countries have joined the pact, which now covers half of global emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas released through agriculture and gas drilling. However, the challenge is steep: the largest increase in methane levels globally is due in 2021.
Deforestation
graphic deforestation Forests are biodiversity sanctuaries and essential for carbon storage. In Glasgow, 145 countries pledged to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030, and four more countries have since joined the pledge. But the target rings hollow based on current deforestation trends, with nearly 7 million hectares of forest leveled by 2021, according to the authors of a recent report.
