-3920e779-0139-48cc-94e5-cdba59cc1c90.jpeg)
Geneva, October 26 (BNA): The United Nations said on Monday that concentrations of greenhouse gases hit a record last year and that the world was “off course” in curbing rising temperatures. .
A report by the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) shows carbon dioxide levels rising to 413.2 parts per million in 2020, more than the average rate over the past decade despite a temporary dip in emissions during the COVID-lockdowns. 19.
WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said the current rate of increase in greenhouse gases would lead to a rise in temperatures “well above” the 2015 Paris Agreement target of 1.5°C above the pre-industrial average. this century.
“We are far from the right track,” he said. “We need to reconsider our entire industry, energy, transportation and way of life systems,” he added, calling for a “significant increase” in commitments at COP26, which begins Sunday, according to Reuters.
Glasgow was putting the finishing touches before hosting the climate talks, which could be the world’s best remaining chance of limiting global warming to the 1.5-2°C maximum set in the Paris Agreement.
Under countries’ current pledges, global emissions will be 16% higher in 2030 than they were in 2010, according to a separate analysis by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
That’s a long way from the 45% reduction by 2030 that scientists say is needed to limit warming to 1.5 degrees and avoid its most devastating effects.
“Exceeding temperature targets will lead to global instability and endless suffering, especially among those who have contributed the least to atmospheric (greenhouse gas) emissions,” said Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
“We are nowhere near where science says we should be,” Espinosa said.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a news conference with the children that the summit would be “very, very difficult”.
“I’m very concerned that it might go wrong and we might not get the agreements we need and it goes on and on, it’s very difficult, but I think it can be done,” he said.
The German government has announced that Chancellor Angela Merkel will travel to Glasgow to participate. Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend in person. He and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to appear in a video instead.
Britain is seeking support from major powers for a more radical plan to tackle global warming. Johnson’s office said Monday that Johnson urged Putin, for example, to advance Russia’s 10-year goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions, from 2060 to 2050.
The Kremlin said Putin promised that the Russian delegation to Glasgow “will contribute to the successful work of such an important international forum.”
The stakes for the planet are huge – among them the survival of low countries, the impact on economic livelihoods around the world, and the future stability of the global financial system.
Developed countries are set to be three years behind on their pledge to commit a total of $500 billion to help poor countries tackle climate change, said Alok Sharma, head of COP26.
Rich nations in 2009 pledged $100 billion annually for five years, starting in 2020. But a plan on how to do that, drawn up by Canada and Germany ahead of the summit, said the annual target wouldn’t be met until 2023.
“Understandably, this has been a source of deep frustration for developing countries,” Sharma said in a televised news conference.
US President Joe Biden’s climate envoy, John Kerry, while attending an event in Saudi Arabia, said the private sector should step in to help governments achieve emissions targets.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Saturday that the world’s largest oil exporter aims to reach “net zero” greenhouse gas emissions by 2060, 10 years after the United States. He also said it would double the emissions reductions it plans to achieve by 2030.
A Reuters poll of economists found that achieving Paris’ goal of cutting net carbon emissions would require investments in a green transition of 2%-3% of global output each year through 2050, well below the economic cost of inaction.
By contrast, since January 2020 governments have spent a total of $10.8 trillion – or 10.2% of global output – responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The “business-as-usual” path of warming to 1.6°C, 2.4°C and 4.4°C by 2030, 2050 and 2100 respectively would lead to a loss of 2.4% of production by 2030 and 10% by 2050 and 18 % by 2100, according to average survey responses.
In London, climate activists resumed their campaign to block major roads by disrupting traffic in the city’s financial district, while a few dozen people in Madrid staged a sit-in, briefly shutting down the Gran Via shopping street.
“Greenhouse gas emissions are triggering climate catastrophes all over the planet. We don’t have time. It’s already too late, and if we don’t join the action against what’s happening, we won’t have time to save what’s left,” said Alberto, 27, a sociologist who participated in protest.
HF