Shortly before the climate conference: UN report names alarming number - "The world has to wake up"

The world climate conference will start in Glasgow on Saturday.

Shortly beforehand, the UN wants to shake up the states: A new report provides worrying figures.

New York / Glasgow - Shortly before the start of the UN climate conference in Glasgow, the UN published an alarming report on the current climate policy of the global community: The states must therefore increase their climate protection efforts sevenfold to achieve the 1.5 degree target.

With the current national climate protection plans, greenhouse gas emissions can only be reduced by 7.5 percent by 2030, according to the report published by the UN Environment Program (UNEP) on Tuesday.

In order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees as agreed in the Paris Climate Agreement, a reduction of 55 percent - around seven times - is necessary.

Even for the 2-degree target, a reduction of 30 percent would be necessary.

Climate conference in Glasgow: UN presents alarming figures - "The world has to wake up"

"In order to have a chance of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, we have eight years to almost halve greenhouse gas emissions," explained Unep Executive Director Inger Andersen.

"The world needs to wake up and become aware of the impending danger we face as a species."

Every year, the Unep “Emissions Gap Report” determines the gap between the expected emissions and the values ​​that are necessary to achieve the Paris climate targets.

The international community agreed in Paris at the end of 2015 to limit global warming to well below two degrees, but if possible to 1.5 degrees compared to the pre-industrial age.

With the Paris Climate Agreement, the signatory states have committed themselves to submitting new, more ambitious national climate protection contributions (NDC) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions every five years.

But according to Unep, the world is headed for a warming of 2.7 degrees in this century with the plans submitted by around 120 countries.

The World Meteorological Organization had already presented new maximum values ​​for the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere on Monday.

Corona causes a cut in CO2 emissions - but it is not enough: 28 billion tons of CO2 savings are required every year

The corona pandemic led to an "unprecedented" decline in global emissions of 5.4 percent in 2020, the report says.

But even this cut is not enough to achieve the 1.5 degree target.

According to the paper, the global community must reduce its emissions of carbon dioxide or its equivalent in other greenhouse gases by 28 billion tons annually by 2030.

For comparison: carbon dioxide emissions alone are expected to be 33 billion tons in 2021.

Anne Ohloff, co-author of the report, sees "some progress" since the Paris Agreement.

The states' new climate targets would save four billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year by 2030.

"But of course that is far from sufficient," she emphasized.

"Overall, we are very far from where we should be."

CO2 emissions: Glasgow should bring about the decisive turning point - but UN program criticizes "vague plans"

According to the Unep report, if all countries were to fully implement their net zero emissions targets, global warming could be limited to 2.2 degrees with a 66 percent probability.

A total of 49 countries, which are responsible for around half of global greenhouse gas emissions, have committed to net zero emissions.

However, UNEP criticizes that its plans are "vague and not reflected in the NDCs".

In this year's Unep report, the role of methane, one of the most powerful greenhouse gases, in the climate crisis was examined in particular.

The experts came to the conclusion that existing technology and little or no cost could reduce man-made methane emissions by 20 percent per year.

The UNEP report was published a few days before the UN climate conference COP26, which is considered to be crucial for achieving the Paris climate goals.

From October 31st, the governments in Glasgow, Scotland, will be negotiating how they can actually meet the goals of the agreement.

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