All nations worldwide were tasked this year with providing enhanced strategies to combat climate change. However, according to a recent report by the United Nations, these strategies have had minimal impact on reducing the future warming of the Earth. The withdrawal of the United States from these efforts has also hindered progress, as noted in the report.
The latest climate action plans, required every five years under the 2015 Paris Agreement, are projected to reduce future warming by approximately 0.3 degrees Celsius compared to previous estimates. Only a third of the countries that are part of the agreement, representing 63% of global emissions, have submitted updated climate plans. Canada, for instance, submitted a plan in February which has been criticized as “highly insufficient” by the Climate Action Tracker.
Experts have highlighted the need for a coordinated policy reset to transition to a net-zero energy system, as outlined in a recent report by the Institut de l’énergie Trottier at Polytechnique Montreal. Despite Canada having a structured process for setting climate targets, there have been shortcomings in fulfilling these commitments, according to Ross Linden-Fraser from the Canadian Climate Institute.
On the other hand, the Trump administration’s policies in the U.S., including the rollback of environmental regulations and hindering green energy projects, are projected to contribute an additional 0.1 degrees Celsius of warming, as stated in the UN Environment Program’s Emissions Gap report. This rise in temperature has significant implications for vulnerable communities and ecosystems globally.
The primary cause of global temperature increase is the release of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels. To combat this, countries must outline detailed plans to reduce emissions within specified timelines. If countries adhere to their commitments, the Earth is expected to warm by 2.3 to 2.5 degrees Celsius, surpassing the Paris Agreement goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The current trajectory puts the world on a path for 2.8 degrees Celsius of warming, emphasizing the urgency of the upcoming UN climate talks in Belem, Brazil. Efforts to rapidly reduce emissions from coal, oil, and natural gas will likely result in a temperature increase of at least 1.7 degrees Celsius, with subsequent measures needed to reverse the trend.
While progress has been made, there is a consensus among experts that more decisive action is required to address climate change. World leaders have the opportunity to implement ambitious climate policies that not only mitigate environmental impact but also offer economic and public health benefits. The upcoming UN climate talks are viewed as a critical juncture for global climate action.