Ahead of COP28, research shows the world far behind in climate fight

Ahead of COP28, research shows the world far behind in climate fight

Ahead of this year's COP28 climate summit in Dubai, U.N. agencies have released several reports offering updates on global progress in limiting climate change.

Here are some of the most important findings:

GLOBAL GREENHOUSE GASES ARE STILL RISING

Global greenhouse gas emissions rose by 1.2% from 2021 to 2022, reaching 57.4 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent for the year, according to the U.N. Emissions Gap Report.

If countries don't quickly plan for steep cuts, global temperatures will rise nearly 3 degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels in this century, it said — far beyond the 1.5C (2.7F) threshold that scientists say would begin to trigger catastrophic effects.

The report, released on Nov. 20, looks at how countries' planned climate action compares with what is needed to meet global climate goals. It found those pledges put the world on track for a temperature rise of 2.5C-2.9C (4.5F-5.2F).

Even in the most optimistic emissions scenario, it found there is just a 14% chance of holding warming to 1.5C — adding to a growing body of scientific evidence suggesting the central goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement is out of reach.

 

COUNTRIES ARE LAGGING WITH EMISSIONS-CUTTING TARGETS

Planet-warming greenhouse gas