Glasgow commitments could lead to 2.4 ° C warming

Published on : 11/10/2021 – 10:30

The Climate Action Tracker research group estimated, Tuesday, November 9, that the national commitments made so far at the COP26 in Glasgow, in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, would lead to global warming of around 2.4 ° C by the end of the century, well above the target set by the United Nations for 2100.

“Therefore, all governments must reconsider their ambitions”, said the group.

In an “optimistic scenario” where some countries succeed in meeting longer-term goals of halting the increase in the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by 2050 or later, warming may be limited. at 1.8 ° C during this century, he added.

However, the research group questions this hypothesis, given that most countries have not yet implemented the short-term policies or legislation necessary to achieve these goals.

In all possible scenarios, the limit of 1.5 ° C, which scientists believe is necessary to respect to avoid the most devastating effects of climate change, would be exceeded.

To stay below this threshold, global greenhouse gas emissions – mainly carbon dioxide from the combustion of coal, oil and gas – must fall by 45% from 2010 levels of by 2030 and achieve neutrality by 2050, according to scientists.

Greenpeace called the Climate Action Tracker’s finding “overwhelming” and urged countries to agree to update their 2030 targets every year until the gap between their pledges and the 1.5 target. ° C is filled.

With Reuters