Paris-Sana
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned weeks before climate talks that failure to cut global emissions would set the world on a catastrophic path that would lead to a warming of 7.2 degrees Celsius.
"The promises of 191 countries on greenhouse gas emissions will not meet the ambition of the Paris climate agreement to limit global warming to 5.1 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures," Guterres was quoted by AFP as saying in a statement today.
"The United Nations report showed that the world is on a catastrophic path to warming from 7.2 degrees Celsius," Guterres added, stressing that failure to achieve this goal would be measured by the number of deaths and destroyed livelihoods, calling on all governments to propose more ambitious commitments.
Under the Paris Agreement, each country must review its Nationally Determined Contribution by the end of 2020, but as of July 30, only 113 countries representing less than half of global greenhouse gas emissions had made their revised commitments.
Based on the new commitments, emissions from this group of 113 countries, including the United States and the European Union, will decrease by 12 percent by 2030 compared to 2010.
"This is a glimmer of hope that does not overshadow the dark side of the picture," said UN climate official Patricia Espinosa, adding: "In general, the figures for greenhouse gas emissions are going in the wrong direction."
