Global warming
Fulfilling CoP26 promises can limit global warming to 2o C.
Global warming is the long-term heating of Earth’s climate system observed since the pre-industrial period(1850-1900) due to human activities, primarily fossil fuel burning, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in Earth’s atmosphere.
The Paris agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 countries/parties at COP 21. In Paris, on 12th December 2015 and entered into force on 4th November 2016.
Its goal is to limit global warming to below 2o preferably to 1.5o Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.
To achieve this long-term temperature goal, countries aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse gases emissions as soon as possible to achieve a climate-neutral world by mid-century.
The Paris agreement works on a 5-year cycle of increasingly ambitious climate action carried out by all countries. By 2020, countries submit their plans for climate action known as NATIONALLY
Its goal is to limit global warming to below 2o preferably to 1.5o Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.
To achieve this long-term temperature goal, countries aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse gases emissions as soon as possible to achieve a climate-neutral world by mid-century.
The Paris agreement works on a 5-year cycle of increasingly ambitious climate action carried out by all countries. By 2020, countries submit their plans for climate action known as NATIONALLY
DETERMINED CONTRIBUTIONS (NDCs).
Global warming can be limited to 2o Celsius over pre-industrial levels if all the conditional and unconditional pledges to the Paris agreement are implemented.
Science has been clear for a few decades about the reason for climate change, and remedies to stop that. Policy intent and implementation, on the other hand, show less conviction despite the signals from the scientific community.
Various countries made pledges to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), under oath to the Paris agreement, in the run-up to and at the 26th conference of Parties (CoP26) to the United Nations framework convention on climate change in Glasgow. But those pledges to reduce 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius were not enough for the current situation.
154 nationally determined contributions (NDC) and 76 long-term low-emission development strategies submitted a report during mid-November 2021.
The former are the pledges made by countries who are Parties to the Paris agreement, and typically have a target date of 2030. The latter are long-term plans that countries are invited to submit and can be dated to 2050 or beyond. They typically contain the Net Zero plans of countries that have a net-zero emissions target.
The former are the pledges made by countries who are Parties to the Paris agreement, and typically have a target date of 2030. The latter are long-term plans that countries are invited to submit and can be dated to 2050 or beyond. They typically contain the Net Zero plans of countries that have a net-zero emissions target.
India’s Net Zero announcement of 2070 as a target date has been included in this study. If these plans and pledges are implemented, global GHG emissions could peak in this decade.
The Earth’s system reacts in unpredictable ways in response to rising emissions and throws a massive wrench in all the analytics and predictions.
The Earth’s system reacts in unpredictable ways in response to rising emissions and throws a massive wrench in all the analytics and predictions.
A 2o C world will not be necessary for UTOPIA, which is saved from the runway of climate change. New Delhi-based think-tank Centre for science and environment had pointed out that the impacts of 2o C of warming will be catastrophic compared to a 1.5o C world and would lead to irreversible planetary changes.
AGREEMENTS RELATED TO GLOBAL WARMING
1. PARIS AGREEMENT- It is the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate change agreement, limiting global warming to below 2oC.
2. UN CLIMATE CONVENTION-The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC) agreed upon in 1992, is the main international treaty on fighting climate change.
3. KYOTO PROTOCOL-It has 2 commitment periods; first period (2008-2012)-industrialized countries committed to reducing emissions by an average of 5%. The second period(2013-2020)-Parties who joined this period committed to reducing emissions by atleast18%.
2. UN CLIMATE CONVENTION-The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC) agreed upon in 1992, is the main international treaty on fighting climate change.
3. KYOTO PROTOCOL-It has 2 commitment periods; first period (2008-2012)-industrialized countries committed to reducing emissions by an average of 5%. The second period(2013-2020)-Parties who joined this period committed to reducing emissions by atleast18%.
EFFECTS:
• Sea-level rise will be around 0.1 meters greater than a 1.5o C world;
• Coral reefs would face extinction.
• Climate-induced extinction rates for plants and animals would increase by 50%.
These effects will be felt most by the developing world. In fact,2o C would put a question mark on the survival of many communities in the developing world.
STEPS TOWARDS GOAL
• Growth in carbon dioxide emissions has slowed notably over the past decade, and emissions are projected to plateau in the coming years under current policies.
• There is a drop in costs of low-emission technologies as a positive signal to spur rapid decarbonization.
• Growth in carbon dioxide emissions has slowed notably over the past decade, and emissions are projected to plateau in the coming years under current policies.
• There is a drop in costs of low-emission technologies as a positive signal to spur rapid decarbonization.
Conclusion:
Net zero targets should implement concrete policies within this decade to achieve them and should consider bringing their dates forward. Pledges for 2030 should be more ambitious, and countries without Net Zero targets should set them.
