A crucial UN report has issued a strong warning that the world must do “much more on all fronts”, including moving away from fossil fuels and significantly reducing CO2 emissions by 2025, to tackle the growing climate crisis. This report is presented as a fundamental document for the upcoming COP28 negotiations, which will take place in Dubai in three months.
The publication of this report coincides with the meeting of the leaders of the main G20 nations in New Delhi, in which expectations of achieving significant progress on the climate issue are low. Although greenhouse gas emissions have decreased in the United States and Europe in recent years, countries such as China and India, two of the largest emitters, continue to increase their emissions.
The report marks the first stage of the first “global stocktake” on progress towards the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement, which seeks to limit global warming to 1.5 oC.The signatory countries of the agreement will have to make crucial political decisions during the UN COP28, which will be held in the United Arab Emirates.
The report emphasizes the urgent need for a transition towards carbon neutrality, which includes the gradual abandonment of fossil fuels and the development of clean energy. Additionally, it calls for emissions to peak before 2025 and fall by 43% by 2030 and 60% by 2035 compared to 2019 levels, with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
The report highlights the importance of acting quickly, as “there is a rapidly closing window to raise ambitions and implement existing commitments. Furthermore, it calls on developing countries to make additional economic efforts, reduce emissions, and adapt to climate change.
COP28 in Dubai is considered one of the largest in history and will focus on the future of fossil energies such as coal, oil, and gas. The conclusion of the UN report is clear: the world needs to take decisive action to address the climate crisis and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.