If countries meet their current climate commitments, global greenhouse gas emissions will increase by 10.6% by 2030 compared to 2010 levels, according to a United Nations (UN) report released on Wednesday. 26).
The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says a 43% reduction in emissions by 2030 is needed to limit warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial temperatures.
With world leaders expected to gather in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt for the COP27 climate summit from November 6, experts said more action was urgently needed.
“At the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow last year, all countries agreed to review and strengthen their climate plans,” Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UN’s climate change division, said in a statement. “The fact that only 24 new or updated climate plans have been submitted since COP26 is disappointing.”
Among the countries that updated their plans are Bolivia, Vanuatu and Uganda, along with major emitters such as India and Indonesia. The latter, which sees the majority of emissions come from deforestation and peatland clearing, now says it will reduce emissions levels by at least 31.89% by 2030.
Globally, inadequate promises put the world on a path to warming by 2.5°C by 2100.
Still, a 10.6% increase in emissions represents a small step forward. Last year’s UN assessment showed countries were on track to increase emissions by 13.7% by 2030.
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