Global climate commitments fall short, warns UN ahead of key negotiations
As nations prepare for the upcoming climate change negotiations in Baku, the United Nations has issued a stark warning: current national pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions are insufficient to prevent catastrophic global warming. According to the latest assessment from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the “nationally determined contributions” (NDCs) submitted so far will only reduce global emissions by 2.6% from 2019 levels by 2030, a modest increase from the previous year’s 2%.
Scientists emphasize that a drastic 43% reduction is necessary to maintain the Paris Agreement’s target of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit). UNFCCC Secretary-General Simon Stiell stated that current climate plans are “miles short” of what is needed to mitigate severe economic and humanitarian impacts globally. He urged nations to deliver stronger NDCs by the February deadline, highlighting the need for a transformative approach.
The COP29 climate talks, set to begin in two weeks, will be crucial for reshaping these commitments. Nearly 200 countries will negotiate a new global emissions trading system and a $100 billion annual financial package to support developing nations in achieving their climate objectives.
Pablo Vieira, global director of the NDC Partnership, noted that some nations may leverage the NDC process for increased funding, aiming to ensure that updated pledges are attractive to both public and private investors.
In a related report, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) revealed that atmospheric CO2 levels reached a new high of 420 parts per million last year, marking a 2.3 ppm increase from 2022. This surge is attributed to intensified forest fires, particularly during Canada’s record wildfire season. CO2 concentrations are now 51% above pre-industrial levels, while methane levels have risen by 165% since 1750.
WMO Secretary General Celeste Saulo warned that these figures should alarm decision-makers. “Every part per million and every fraction of a degree temperature increase has a real impact on our lives and our planet,” she stressed.
As countries gear up for negotiations in Baku, the urgency for bold and actionable climate commitments has never been more critical.
