UN report warns of alarming climate future: global warming could exceed 3 degrees celsius by century’s end
United Nations report released today reveals that current climate policies will likely lead to a staggering rise in global temperatures of more than 3 degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) by the end of the century. This projection significantly exceeds the 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) target established nearly a decade ago under the Paris Agreement.
The annual Emissions Gap report assesses the disparity between nations’ climate commitments and the emissions reductions necessary to avert catastrophic climate impacts. According to the report, without urgent action to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the world could warm by as much as 3.1 degrees Celsius (5.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels by 2100. Currently, global temperatures have already risen by approximately 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 degrees Fahrenheit).
As nations prepare for the upcoming United Nations climate summit (COP29) in Azerbaijan next month, the focus will be on enhancing commitments to transition away from fossil fuels. The summit aims to build on agreements reached last year and inform each country’s updated emissions-cutting strategies, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are due by February 2025.
The findings underscore an urgent need for governments to strengthen their climate policies and take immediate, decisive action to meet international climate goals and mitigate the looming impacts of climate change.
