Chance of limiting global warming to 1.5C is 'virtually zero' on current trends, UN warns

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2024-10-25 16:00:05

"Climate crunch time is here," one UN environment chief warned, as years of inaction threaten to catch up with countries across the world.

The analysis finds that the current trajectory in carbon emissions puts the world on course for a potentially catastrophic 3.1C of warming this century - compared to pre-industrial times.

While emissions in many wealthy countries, including the UK, the US and the EU have peaked, they are not falling anywhere near fast enough to make up for rapidly growing emissions in places like China, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam.

"We need global mobilisation on a scale and pace never seen before - starting right now, before the next round of climate pledges."

The report urges nations meeting at the UN climate summit next month in Baku, Azerbaijan, to come forward with emissions-cutting commitments that don't continue to ignore the agreement they all signed in Paris in 2015.

The Paris Agreement, signed by 196 countries, pledged to limit global warming to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels and try and prevent it from rising beyond 1.5C.