In its annual review, the UN says the gap between carbon cutting plans and the reductions required to keep temperature rises below 2 degrees Celsius is “alarmingly high”. Pledges made so far cover only one-third of the cuts needed by 2030 to keep below that goal, the review warns. Even if all the promises are kept, temperatures might still rise by 3 degrees by 2100. However, cost-effective options are available that can close the gap. The UN has published an annual analysis of emissions every year since 2010.
BBC 31st Oct 2017 read more »
Governments should accept that we shall probably be living in a world 3oC warmer than it is today by the end of this century unless they urgently step up the speed at which they cut greenhouse gases, a United Nations assessment says. As things stand, the UN says, even fully implementing the goals of the Paris Agreement (concluded in 2015) will deliver only one third of what is needed for the world to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. It will make “a temperature increase of at least 3 oC by 2100 very likely” – meaning that governments need to deliver much stronger pledges when they are revised in 2020.
Climate News Network 31st Oct 2017 read more »
Guardian 31st Oct 2017 read more »
Independent 31st Oct 2017 read more »
The UNEP report suggest that they still can be closed in a cost-effective manner. The report presents an analysis of the contributions that different sectors of the global economy can make, through adopting existing cost-effective technologies and employing best practices already being deployed in some countries. The report says that “it is remarkable” that a large portion of reductions come from just six specific things: solar energy; wind energy; efficient appliances; efficient passenger cars; aforestation; and stopping deforestation.
Carbon Brief 31st Oct 2017 read more »