Current Climate Pledges by Nations 'Miles Short' of 2030 Goal, UN Body says
Current Climate Pledges by Nations 'Miles Short' of 2030 Goal, UN Body says
The Facts
As the world prepares to gather in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, for the COP29 climate talks, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change has stated that the current climate pledges from nations are insufficient to meet the 2030 goal.
Countries must boost their "nationally determined contributions" (NDCs) and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to prevent catastrophic global warming in order to reach the 43% reduction necessary to be aligned with the Paris Agreement target. Current estimated cutbacks can only lower global emissions by 2.6% from 2019 to 2030 , the UN body said on Monday.
The Spin
Two weeks before world leaders meet in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, for the COP29 global climate negotiations, new data indicates that the world is far from meeting the goals outlined in the 2015 Paris Agreement. These goals aim to reduce greenhouse gases to a level necessary by 2030 to prevent the worst impacts of global warming. This new information should prompt world leaders to reconsider and revise their pledges ahead of COP29.
The success of next month's COP29 climate negotiations in Baku depends on the West's commitment to funding poorer countries' climate change efforts. Low- or zero-carbon technology, adapting to rising sea levels and shifting weather patterns, and resilient infrastructure cost trillions. Clean energy programs in emerging markets and developing countries will require $80 - 100B by the early 2030s to keep global temperature rise under 1.5 degrees Celsius.
