UN Warns of Urgent Emissions Cuts to Limit Global Warming Overshoot
• The United Nations has announced that the goal of keeping global warming below 1.5°C is no longer achievable, urging nations to focus on minimising the overshoot. According to the UN Environment Programme's (UNEP) annual emissions gap report, countries must reduce CO2 emissions by nearly 20% by the end of the decade compared to 2025 levels to limit warming to 1.7°C–1.8°C above pre-industrial levels and return to 1.5°C by the century's end. The report highlights that fewer than half of G20 economies are on track to meet their 2030 targets, with current policies potentially leading to 2.6°C warming by
• The upcoming COP31 climate talks in Antalya, Turkey, will focus on strategies to combat warming and adapt to its impacts.
Impact & Risks
The overshoot of the 1.5°C warming threshold increases the likelihood of extreme weather events, disruptions to global food production, and economic inflation. The UNEP report warns that each fraction of a degree above pre-industrial levels exacerbates these risks. The United States and Turkey were identified as leading contributors to emissions growth last year, with the US recording an increase of 133 megatons of CO2. The report underscores the urgency of immediate, deep, and sustained emissions reductions to mitigate these risks.
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