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THE EMISSIONS GAP REPORT 2024

Last Updated on 28th October, 2024
6 minutes, 58 seconds

Description

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Context: 

The Emissions Gap Report 2024 has flagged that if countries continue with the present environmental policies, it would result in 3.1 degrees Celsius warming over pre-industrial levels.

Emissions Gap Report 

It is an annual report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) being published since 2010.

The report assesses the gap between current emissions and the reductions needed to limit warming to below 2°C or 1.5°C of the Paris Agreement goals.

It provides science-based insights on future global emissions trends and their comparison with the climate goals.

Each edition of the report highlights the key opportunities to bridge the emissions gap in the countries.

The report is released annually before the UN Climate Change Conference (COP) to guide global negotiations.

Findings of the Emissions Gap Report 2024

Urgent Need for Emission Reductions

The report highlights that the governments need to cut annual greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2030 and 57% by 2035 in order to align with the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement.

The report forecasts that there will be a temperature rise between 2.6°C and 3.1°C by 2100 if current trends continue among the countries.

As per the report, to stay within the 1.5°C limit, the emissions must decline by 7.5 per cent annually until 2035. This is a challenging task given that in 2023, the emissions reached a record 57.1 gigatons of CO2 equivalent.

Difficulty in meeting the targets

Even the lowest projected 2.6°C increase in temperature would result in severe impacts on human lives, economies, and biodiversity.

Delayed action requires greater emission cuts later and this will make it harder to meet climate goals.

Required Actions and Global Coordination

Global mobilisation of funds and awareness for policy actions on a massive scale is necessary to strengthen climate pledges or Nationally Determined Climate goals.

Countries must submit the updated NDC before COP30 in Brazil to enhance their ambition.

Achieving Paris climate goals will require a 6 times higher mitigation investment and global financial system reforms, especially from G20 countries as they are responsible for 75% of global emissions.

Proposed Emission Reduction Pathways

As per the report Reducing emissions by 52% by 2030 and down to 41 gigatons by 2035 is absolutely achievable at a cost below 200 dollars per ton of CO2.

Key contributors to emission reductions for Emission Reduction Pathways are solar, wind energy, forest preservation (27%), and sectoral electrification and efficiency.

Common but Differentiated Responsibilities

Largest emitters, especially the G20 countries, historically bear more responsibility, although the inclusion of the African Union in G20 just emphasises a shared but differentiated role.

Current Policy Projections and Conditional NDCs

Full implementation of unconditional and conditional NDCs by the countries will only bring an emission reduction of 10% by 2030 and likely lead to a 2.6°C warming.

Even with only the conditional NDCs, temperatures may still reach 2.8°C by the end of the century.

Unconditional Targets and Conditional Targets 

Unconditional targets are the targets which are implemented using domestic resources.

Conditional targets are the targets which require international support, such as financial resources, technology transfer, or capacity-building support.

Call for Enhanced Climate Finance

The report calls for international climate finance and support for developing countries to align climate action with development goals and also highlights the need for transparency and accountability in NDCs so as to ensure that they cover all GHGs and sectors.

India’s emission 

As per the report, India’s FY23 GreenHouse Gas emissions increased by 6.1% which is the highest among all the years and among all the countries. 

This is followed by China at 5.2%, while the US and EU emissions decreased by 1.4% and 7.5% respectively.

India’s total emissions which were 4,140 MtCO₂e in absolute value remain lower than that of China at 16,000 MtCO₂e and the US at 5,970 MtCO₂e.

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NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTIONS

CLIMATE FINANCE

CARBON CREDITS 

PARIS CLIMATE GOALS

Sources:

HINDUSTANTIMES

UNEP.ORG

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements about the Emissions Gap Report: 

  1. It is an annual report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
  2. The report assesses the gap between current emissions and the reductions needed to limit warming in accordance with the Paris Agreement goals.
  3. The report is released annually after the UN Climate Change Conference (COP).

Which of the above  statements are correct? 

A)1 and 2 only

B)2 and 3 only

C)1, 2 and 3 only

D)None

Ans: A

Explanation: 

Statement 1 is correct: 

Emissions Gap Report 2024

It is an annual report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) being published since 2010.

Statement 2 is correct: 

The report assesses the gap between current emissions and the reductions needed to limit warming to below 2°C or 1.5°C of the Paris Agreement goals.

It provides science based insights on future global emissions trends and its comparison with the climate goals.

Statement 3 is incorrect: 

Each edition of the report highlights the key opportunities to bridge the emissions gap in the countries.

The report is released annually before the UN Climate Change Conference (COP) to guide global negotiations.

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