World is Severely Off Track to Limit Planet-Heating Emissions, says UN

Relevance: GS3 – ​Environment & Ecology, Climate Change, Global Warming, Important International Institutions, UN, COP-28, IPCC

Primary Source: The Hindu

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Why in the news?

• The United Nations has issued a warning about the world being significantly behind in efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
• The UN's assessment shows that current climate pledges will only slightly reduce emissions by 2030, far below the necessary levels.

Key Highlights of the UN’s Assessment Report

• Minor Progress on Emission Reduction: The report indicates that the progress made by nearly 200 nations in their current climate pledges is only minor, particularly in terms of reducing emissions this decade.
• Insufficient Reduction in Carbon Emissions: The combined climate plans from these nations are projected to lead to a reduction in carbon emissions of just 2% below 2019 levels by 2030.
• Far Below Required Targets: This reduction is significantly lower than what is needed to limit global warming. The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states that a 43% fall in emissions is necessary to limit warming to the Paris Agreement target of 1.5°C since the pre-industrial era.
• Urgency in Action: The report emphasizes the lack of sufficient urgency in global actions to curb greenhouse gas emissions, despite rising temperatures and the increasing likelihood of 2023 becoming the warmest year in human history.
• Close to Exceeding Climate Thresholds: The findings also highlight that humanity is dangerously close to surpassing the 1.5°C global heating limit, which is a critical threshold for avoiding severe and irreversible climate impacts.

What is COP-28 and its Significance?

• COP-28 refers to the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• This annual conference brings together countries that are part of the UNFCCC to assess progress in dealing with climate change and to establish legally binding obligations for developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
• One of the main purposes of COP-28, like other COP meetings, is to review the progress made by countries in their climate pledges, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), under the Paris Agreement.
• COP-28 serves as a critical forum for negotiations on various aspects of climate action, including mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology transfer, and capacity building.
• The conference is significant because it sets the tone for global climate policy and action.
• It provides an opportunity for countries to commit to more ambitious targets and measures to combat climate change.
• COP-28 also plays a crucial role in addressing challenges and obstacles in implementing climate policies, facilitating international cooperation and support, especially for developing countries.
• Apart from government representatives, COP-28 involves various stakeholders, including NGOs, businesses, and civil society organizations, reflecting the wide-ranging impact of climate change and the collective effort needed to address it.

Measures to Limit the Global Temperature Rise

Rapid Decarbonization

• Accelerate Shift to Renewable Energy: Transitioning quickly from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power.
• Enhance Energy Efficiency: Implementing energy-saving measures across all sectors, including industry, transportation, and buildings.

Transformative Policy Changes

• Strengthen Climate Policies: Governments must enforce stronger regulations and incentives to reduce emissions.
• Carbon Pricing: Implementing mechanisms like carbon taxes or cap-and-trade systems to incentivize emission reductions.
• Phase Out Coal: Rapidly phasing out coal-fired power plants and replacing them with cleaner energy sources.

Sustainable Transportation

• Expand Electric Vehicle (EV) Use: Increasing the adoption of EVs and developing necessary charging infrastructure.
• Improve Public Transportation: Investing in efficient and accessible public transit systems.

Industrial Innovation

• Sustainable Industrial Processes: Adopting cleaner and more efficient manufacturing processes.
• Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): Investing in CCS technologies to reduce emissions from industrial sources.

Land Use and Agriculture

• Sustainable Agriculture: Implementing practices that reduce emissions and increase carbon sequestration in soils.
• Combat Deforestation: Protecting and expanding forests, which are vital carbon sinks.
• Promote Plant-Based Diets: Encouraging dietary shifts to reduce the carbon footprint of food production.

Building and Urban Planning

• Green Building Standards: Constructing new buildings to be energy-efficient and retrofitting existing buildings.
• Sustainable Urban Planning: Developing cities in a way that reduces the need for long-distance travel and promotes energy efficiency.

Waste Management

• Enhanced Recycling and Composting: Reducing landfill waste to lower methane emissions.
• Circular Economy: Encouraging reuse and recycling of products to minimize waste.

Individual and Community Actions

• Reducing Personal Carbon Footprints: Encouraging lifestyle changes such as reducing energy use, minimizing air travel, and adopting sustainable diets.
• Community Initiatives: Local actions such as community solar projects or urban green spaces can contribute significantly.

Financial and Economic Shifts

• Green Financing: Directing investments and financial flows toward sustainable, climate-resilient development.
• Divesting from Fossil Fuels: Redirecting investments away from fossil fuel industries towards renewable energy.

International Collaboration and Support

• Global Cooperation: Enhancing international collaboration, particularly in supporting developing countries through finance, technology transfer, and capacity building.
• Fulfilling Financial Commitments: Developed countries meeting their commitments to provide financial support to developing nations.

Research, Development, and Innovation

• Technology Development: Investing in the development of new technologies for renewable energy, energy storage, and carbon removal.
• Climate Science Research: Continuing research to better understand climate change impacts and adaptation needs.

Conclusion

The UN’s report highlights a critical gap between current efforts and necessary actions to combat climate change. There is an urgent need for world leaders to increase efforts to meet emission reduction targets and avoid severe climate impacts. The upcoming COP28 is seen as a crucial opportunity for making significant changes to current climate policies.

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FAQs

MCQs

Question: “Climate Action Tracker” which monitors the emission reduction pledges of different countries is a: (UPSC 2022)

(a) Database created by coalition of research organisations

(b) Wing of “International Panel of Climate Change”

(c) Committee under “United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change”

(d) Agency promoted and financed by United Nations Environment Programme and World Bank

Question: The ‘Common Carbon Metric’, supported by UNEP, has been developed for: (UPSC 2021)

(a) assessing the carbon footprint of building operations around the world

(b) enabling commercial farming entities around the world to enter carbon emission trading

(c) enabling governments to assess the overall carbon footprint caused by their countries

(d) assessing the overall carbon foot-print caused by the use of fossil fuels by the world in a unit time

Question: “Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now” is an initiative launched by: (UPSC 2018)

(a) The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

(b) The UNEP Secretariat

(c) The UNFCCC Secretariat

(d) The World Meteorological Organisation