EMISSION GAP REPORT 2023
- The Emissions Gap Report is an annual publication by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
- It assesses the gap between the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission levels that countries have pledged to achieve under international agreements and the emissions levels consistent with limiting global warming to specific targets, usually 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
- The report evaluates the disparity between current emission levels and those required to meet the goals set in international agreements like the Paris Agreement.
- It provides an analysis of national pledges and actions to reduce emissions, offering recommendations and highlighting the urgency of more ambitious climate action to bridge the gap between current commitments and the levels necessary to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change.
- Essentially, the Emissions Gap Report serves as an important tool for policymakers, stakeholders, and the public, emphasizing the need for accelerated efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate climate change and its associated risks.
- The report highlighted that under current national climate policies, the planet is projected to experience a minimum temperature increase of 3 degrees Celsius by the century's end.
- Global carbon dioxide emissions reached 57.4 billion tonnes in 2022, marking a 1.2% rise from the previous year and surpassing the 2019 record. This information comes from the Emissions Gap Report, an annual release by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) ahead of the year-concluding climate summit.
- Although the Covid-19 pandemic temporarily reduced emissions in 2020 due to the abrupt economic slowdown, emissions rebounded in 2021, almost reaching 2019 levels. Notably, emissions from China, the United States, and India—the three largest emitters—increased in 2022, while the European Union, Russia, and Brazil saw slight decreases.
- Even if countries fulfill their current climate pledges with utmost ambition, the report projects global emissions in 2030 to exceed levels required for limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by at least 19 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent. To bridge this gap, global emissions need to decrease by at least 8.7% annually starting from 2024, contrasting with the 1.2% rise recorded in 2022.
- The report underlines that delayed action on climate has made achieving the 1.5 degrees Celsius target extremely challenging.
- Despite the Covid-19 disruption, emissions only dropped by 4.7% between 2019 and 2020. The report stresses the necessity to limit long-term temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels, acknowledging that shorter-term fluctuations might surpass this threshold.
- It also highlights that had substantial climate action been initiated in 2010, the required annual emission reductions to align with the below 2 degrees Celsius and 1.5 degrees Celsius scenarios by 2030 would have been notably lower.
- However, the lack of significant emission cuts has escalated the required reductions. The impacts of this inaction are observable, with 2023 projected to surpass 2016 as the hottest year on record.
- The report notes numerous instances in 2023 where daily temperatures exceeded pre-industrial averages by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. The World Meteorological Organization predicts that one of the upcoming four years is highly likely to breach the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold for the annual average.
The Emissions Gap Report 2023 likely addresses global patterns of inequality concerning greenhouse gas emissions and their consequences. These patterns often reveal disparities in emissions between countries, regions, or socio-economic groups, highlighting how certain populations or areas contribute more to emissions or suffer disproportionately from the impacts of climate change despite having contributed less to the problem.
These inequalities can manifest in various ways:
Emission Contributions: Some countries or regions might contribute significantly more to global emissions due to industrial activities, consumption patterns, or economic development, while others emit considerably less.
Vulnerability to Climate Impacts: Economically disadvantaged or marginalized communities often face greater vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events, sea-level rise, or food insecurity, despite contributing minimally to global emissions.
Access to Resources and Adaptation: Discrepancies in access to resources, technology, and adaptation measures can create disparities in how communities or nations cope with and adapt to the effects of climate change.
Policy and Mitigation Efforts: Inequities can arise in the distribution of climate policies and mitigation efforts, where some regions or groups might bear a disproportionate burden of transitioning to cleaner technologies or reducing emissions.
The report likely delves into these inequalities, highlighting the need for more inclusive and equitable strategies to address climate change. It might emphasize the importance of considering these disparities in formulating global climate policies to ensure fairness and effectiveness in mitigating emissions and adapting to climate impacts
5. Fundamental areas where political action is required to mitigate global warming
These areas typically require political action to mitigate global warming:
Ambitious Emission Reduction Targets: Setting and implementing more ambitious and enforceable emission reduction targets is crucial. Countries need to commit to significantly reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, aiming for net-zero emissions by mid-century or soon after. This involves transitioning to renewable energy sources, enhancing energy efficiency, promoting sustainable transportation, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Enhanced Climate Policies and Regulations: Political leaders must enact and enforce robust climate policies and regulations that drive emissions reductions across industries. This includes implementing carbon pricing mechanisms, investing in clean energy infrastructure, supporting research and development for green technologies, and incentivizing low-carbon practices.
Global Collaboration and Cooperation: Addressing climate change requires collaborative efforts among nations. Countries need to work together to share knowledge, resources, and technology to accelerate the global transition to a low-carbon economy. International cooperation is essential in tackling emissions from sectors such as shipping, aviation, and industry, which often transcend national boundaries.
Support for Vulnerable Communities and Adaptation Measures: Political action should prioritize supporting vulnerable communities that are disproportionately impacted by climate change. This involves investing in adaptation measures, providing financial and technical support to developing nations for climate resilience, and ensuring that climate policies are inclusive and considerate of social and economic disparities.
These fundamental areas often form the basis of recommendations in reports like the Emissions Gap Report, stressing the urgency of political action and emphasizing the need for comprehensive and coordinated efforts at local, national, and global levels to effectively address the challenges posed by climate change
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For Prelims: Current events of national and international importance For Mains: General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment |
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Previous Year Questions
1. Which one of the following is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of the use of ozone-depleting substance? (UPSC CSE 2015) A.Bretton woods conference
B. Montreal Protocol
C. Kyoto Protocol
D. Nagoya Protocol
Answer: B
2.With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC 2016)
1. The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017
2. The Agreement aims to limit greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2°C or even 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
3. Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate $ 1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1 and 3 only B. 2 only C. 2 and 3 only D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: B
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