Obama says action is lacking to control climate change 0:45
(CNN) -
The world is moving toward a temperature rise of 2.4 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels (if not more), according to a new analysis, despite new and updated commitments from countries, including those made at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland.
Watchdog Climate Action Tracker (CAT) warned Tuesday that, by 2030, greenhouse gas emissions will still be roughly double what is needed to limit the rise in temperatures to 1, 5 degrees Celsius, the threshold that scientists say cannot be passed to avoid the worst consequences of the climate crisis.
Obama launches attack on Trump at COP26 for 'four years of hostility' towards climate science
The net zero emissions targets of 40 countries account for 85% of global emission reductions, but the group found that only 6% of those reductions were supported by concrete plans.
"It's all very well for leaders to claim that they have a net zero goal, but if they don't have plans on how to get there, and their 2030 goals are as low as many of them are, then frankly, these net zero goals they are just word of mouth rather than actual climate action, "said Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics, in a statement.
"Glasgow has a serious credibility gap."
Strong message from Greta Thunberg to thousands of protesters 1:11
Delegates from around the world are gathering at COP26 in an attempt to limit the climate crisis.
Although there were several advances in the first week of negotiations, experts warned that the agreements may not respond to the urgency of the moment, specifically that they will not bring the world closer to limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
advertising
"There are a lot of great statements that don't have the details below: exactly when, how much, who is going to do what," said Helen Mountford, vice president for climate and economics at the World Resources Institute.
More than 130 countries representing more than 85% of the world's forests pledged last week to end and reverse deforestation and land degradation by 2030, in what was seen as the first major agreement of the COP26 summit.
When destroyed, forests can emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
ANALYSIS |
Press book: from the front against climate change to COP26, the gap between speeches and reality is great
The deal included some of the world's largest carbon pools locked in tropical forests.
Another advance was the signing, by more than 25 countries so far, of an agreement to stop financing fossil fuel projects abroad.
But critics say it doesn't go far enough and should include funding for fossil fuel projects within countries, not just internationally.
Christine Shearer, director of the coal program at Global Energy Monitor, called the deal a "tipping point" but stressed that fossil fuel projects must also stop within the borders of these countries.
Abdalah Mokssit: There are climatic events that have no turning back 8:53
Other global warming scenarios after COP26
With current policies - not with the proposals, but with what the countries are doing - the CAT predicts that the global temperature will rise to 2.7 degrees.
Humanity needs to abandon coal to survive, but it also needs electricity
If all zero-emission commitments are fully met, the CAT reported that the most optimistic scenario would be a 1.8 degree warming, which would require bold and swift action by 2030. However, the climate targets of the countries by 2030 are still insufficient, according to the analysis.
CNN's Angela Dewan contributed to this report.