A recent report released by the UN Climate Change Secretariat highlights the insufficiency of national climate action plans in curbing global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, falling short of the Paris Agreement objectives.
Despite increased efforts from several nations, the report emphasizes the urgent need for more substantial actions to redirect the world’s emissions trajectory downward and prevent the severe consequences of climate change.
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell, expressed concern over the gradual pace of governmental actions, calling for bold steps at COP28 in Dubai to set the world on a more promising track. Stiell emphasized that the upcoming global stocktake during COP28 serves as a crucial opportunity for nations to amplify their efforts across various domains and align with the Paris Agreement’s goals.
The stocktake aims to guide the formulation of subsequent climate action plans (Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs) by 2025, paving the way for accelerated climate actions worldwide.
Stiell underscored the significance of the Global Stocktake report in highlighting slow progress while showcasing a myriad of solutions proposed by countries to combat climate change.
According to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), slashing greenhouse gas emissions by 43 per cent by 2030, compared to 2019 levels, is imperative to cap the temperature rise at 1.5 degrees Celsius and mitigate severe climate-related impacts like increased droughts, heatwaves, and rainfall.
Stiell emphasized the immediate advantages of more ambitious climate actions, such as job creation, higher incomes, economic growth, improved public health, and reduced pollution.
The report analyzed the NDCs of 195 parties to the Paris Agreement, including 20 new or updated NDCs submitted by September 25, 2023. It reiterated the findings from the previous year, indicating a projection that emissions won’t increase after 2030 but failed to demonstrate the rapid downward trend crucial in this decade according to scientific recommendations.
Stiell urged leveraging the Global Stocktake to transform COP28 into a catalyst, marking a two-year surge in climate action. COP28 President-designate, Sultan Al Jaber, emphasized the pivotal role of the conference, urging parties to use the Global Stocktake to elevate their ambitions and collectively work towards limiting the temperature increase while ensuring inclusivity.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister and COP27 President, Sameh Shoukry, stressed the importance of advocating for climate justice and supporting the Global South, which faces the brunt of climate change effects despite contributing less to global emissions. Shoukry emphasized the need for sustainable economic transitions through just pathways for these regions.
