The United Nations climate report covered in the article in the url below needs little commentary. It states clearly the extent of the challenge we face:
"The global scientific consensus is clear: Emissions of planet-warming gases must be cut by nearly half by 2030 if the world is to have a good shot at averting the worst climate catastrophes."
The reality of where we are at present in terms of government commitments:
"New climate targets submitted by countries to the United Nations would reduce emissions by less than 1 percent, according to the latest tally, made public Friday by the world body."
The Paris Agreement (COP 21), which almost every country signed-up to, requires revised targets by the end of 2020. Most failed to submit:
"The tally was all the more damning because fewer than half of all countries submitted fresh targets to the United Nations."
The most polluting countries are the most concerning in their intransigence:
"Still missing from the ledger is the United States, which has produced more greenhouse gas emissions than any other country in history. … It has yet to submit its 2030 targets and is under pressure from climate advocates to reduce emissions by at least 50 percent compared with 2005 levels. Likewise, China, which currently produces the largest share of emissions, has yet to submit new 2030 targets to the United Nations. Some of the biggest emitter countries — including Australia, Brazil and Russia — submitted new plans for 2030 without increasing their ambitions. Mexico lowered its climate targets."
The only bright spot in the report is, in reality, a distraction, given how far we are from where we need to be:
"In contrast, 36 countries — among them Britain, Chile, Kenya, Nepal and the 27 countries of the European Union — raised their climate targets."
Ironically, the fundamental flaw in the Paris Agreement was the only way it could have been ratified – each country's commitment is voluntary. As a result, we all await the COP 26 meeting in Glasgow later this year. The longer we wait, of course, the less room we have for maneuver and the more expensive any corrective action will be.
Take care
David
David Chandler
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New Targets for Emissions Fall Far Short of Paris Goals
By Somini Sengupta
February 27, 2021
The New York Times
Late Edition – Final
A9
