🌡️ A message The Emissions Gap Report 2024, released on October 24, 2024 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), delivers a crucial message to the world’s nations. At a time when climate impacts are are intensifying globally, the report warns that nations must demonstrate dramatically stronger ambition and take immediate action in the upcoming round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Otherwise, the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C will be lost within a few years.

This report is the 15th in a series that brings together the world’s leading climate scientists to analyze future trends in greenhouse gas emissions and offer potential solutions to global warming. This year’s report, titled “No More Hot Air… Please!”, focuses on how much emissions reductions countries need to pledge and actually achieve in the next round of NDCs, due in early 2025 ahead of COP30.

The main finding is clear: to get on track to the 1.5°C target, we need to collectively reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 42 percent by 2030 about 57 percent by 2035These figures highlight the huge “emissions gap” that nations must fill with new climate commitments and their immediate implementation.

The Emissions Gap Report 2024 highlights the stark choices we face. Without increased ambition in new NDCs and immediate action, the world will be on a path to a temperature increase of 2.6-3.1°C This century. Such an increase would have devastating impacts on people, the planet and economies. Climate change is already causing parts of the world to burn, others to drown, and people everywhere to struggle for survival, with the poorest and most vulnerable hardest hit, as always. The report speaks of tragedy, growing climate anxiety and the catastrophic consequences of warming of 2.6°C or more.

The good news is that getting on the 1.5°C trajectory remains technically possibleThe potential for large-scale and rapid emission reductions is enormous, particularly through solar and wind power and forest protection. But more than just promises are needed to realize this potential.

The following steps are urgently needed to meet the 1.5°C target and implement strong NDCs:

• Whole-of-government approach: Climate action must be supported by a comprehensive whole-of-government approach.
• Maximizing shared benefits: Measures should maximise socio-economic and environmental benefits.
• Strengthened international cooperation: This also includes reforming the global financial architecture.
• Strong private sector action: Business and industry must play a key role.
• At least a sixfold increase in investment in mitigation: The necessary financial resources must be dramatically increased.

The report highlights that G20 countries, especially those with the largest emissions, must bear the greatest responsibility and do the “hard work” of reducing emissions.

The future of our planet is at stake. We are in a climate emergency and the window for action is closing fast. The UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2024 clearly shows that it is time for the climate crisis. It is time to “raise the bar” for ambition and action. Nations face a choice: limit global warming to 1.5°C, struggle with adaptation at 2°C, or face catastrophic consequences at 2.6°C and beyond. Given the context of intensifying climate impacts and the preparation of new climate pledges, the report’s call is clear and urgent: an immediate move from “hot air” to real action is needed. Spring

Glossary of key terms

• Emission gap: The difference between projected global greenhouse gas emissions under current policies and pledges and the emission levels needed to keep global warming within specific targets, such as 1.5°C or 2°C.
• Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): National climate action plans and targets that countries have committed to achieving under the Paris Agreement.
• Paris Agreement: An international agreement adopted in 2015 in Paris, which aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.
• 1.5°C target: The more ambitious goal of the Paris Agreement is to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, in order to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change.
• UNEP (UN Environment Programme): The United Nations Environment Programme, the principal global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the UN system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.
• COP30: The 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is scheduled to take place.
• Mitigation (of climate change): Measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions or increasing their absorption, with the aim of limiting the extent of climate change.
• Global financial architecture: The system of institutions, rules and agreements that govern international financial flows and cooperation. The report proposes its reform to support climate action.
• Co-benefits: Additional positive outcomes that arise from implementing climate change mitigation measures, such as improving air quality or creating green jobs.