UN says 1.5°C target will be overshot, with world heading for 2.6°C warming
PARIS, Oct 21 — Global commitments to cut planet-heating emissions are falling far short of the Paris climate goal...
The United Nations has warned that the Paris climate goals are unlikely to be met, with global warming on track to reach 2.6°C by the end of the century. The UN Environment Programme's annual Emissions Gap Report reveals a significant discrepancy between countries' climate pledges and the urgent action required to combat global warming.
Even if all countries fulfill their latest climate pledges, temperatures could still rise 2.6°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100, surpassing the Paris Agreement's goal of keeping warming well below 2°C and striving for 1.5°C. The world has already experienced a warming of approximately 1.4°C since pre-industrial times, and the 1.5°C threshold is expected to be crossed within a few years.
The United States, as the world's second-largest polluter after China, shows the most significant increase in emissions, attributed to increased electricity demand and a rebound in coal power generation. Scientists warn that each additional degree of warming above 1.5°C leads to more extreme weather events and the risk of irreversible changes to the planet.
Immediate and substantial reductions in emissions are necessary to protect humanity from the worsening impacts of climate change, but current policies and national climate plans are falling far short of what is needed.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
