(ANSA) - ROME, OCTOBER 27 - The last year has been a "wasted" year for the climate, with "woefully inadequate" progress despite the commitments at the COP26 summit in Glasgow.
We are very far from the Paris targets and at the moment there is no credible path towards global warming of 1.5 degrees while the policies currently in place, if not strengthened, would lead to an increase of 2.6-2.8 degrees.
This is the message that comes from the UNEP report on emissions entitled 'The Closing Window' which can be translated as a last chance.
Only a "rapid" and "radical" transformation of the system can avoid catastrophe for the UN.
The updated commitments following the Glasgow COP26 reduce projected greenhouse gas emissions by less than 1% for 2030. Instead, they need to be halved by 45% to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, according to the report.
"It is a tall order, and some would say impossible, to reform the global economy and nearly halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, but we must try," says Executive Director of the UN Environment Program, Inger Andersen.
"Every fraction of a degree counts: for vulnerable communities, for species and ecosystems and for each of us," he adds.
"Greenhouse gas emissions remain at a dangerous and record level and are still on the rise. We need to close the gap with what needs to be done on emissions before the climate catastrophe approaches us all," observes UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
The report therefore presents a guide to the transformation needed in the sectors of electricity supply, industry, transport and buildings, as well as food and financial systems.
(HANDLE).