The United Nations reveals its first assessment of the Paris Agreement – Liberation

Where are we really in the fight against climate change? One report after another from the international community warns of the relentless warming of the planet. The unpublished report, published on Friday 8 September, is ambitious: this first “global assessment” (called “the Global Assessment” in English) is a key document published by the UNFCCC Secretariat.

The purpose of this evaluation? Find out if the world is making progress towards meeting the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement, which call for keeping the increase in average global temperature well below 2°C compared to the pre-industrial era, and if possible to 1.5°C. The global balance of carbon dioxide emissions is “An exercise aimed at ensuring that each party sticks to its side of the deal, and to know where it needs to go next and how quickly it needs to move to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement,” Simon Steele, UN Executive Secretary for Climate Change sums it up.

“Global emissions are not consistent with typical global mitigation pathways compatible with the temperature target set in the Paris Agreement.” Alert un that determines that “Window” to “Increase ambition and implement existing commitments to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels” It exists, but it is “It shrinks quickly.”

“We are behind in everything.”

As a first step since the signing of the agreement, this inventory of the efforts made by the countries will be at the heart of the COP28 UN Climate Summit, which will be held in Dubai at the end of the year. It will allow countries to know where and in which direction to review their climate action plans.

This report is the result of a long process of collecting information from reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, United Nations climate experts, as well as from governments and non-governmental organizations. The message from the global balance sheet is clear: humanity must exit its dependence on fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) urgently.

“In terms of specific goals, we know that there is no way we can achieve a victorious response, we are behind in everything.” summarizes researcher Lola Vallejo, Director of the Climate Program at the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations. Nuance, the United Nations calls for the first time to “Gradual exit from untapped fossil fuels and non-phasing out of all fossil fuels, i.e. including gas and oil,” Explains Lola Vallejo, who considers her a “Very good news.”

List of recommendations

In fact, to achieve carbon neutrality, “We must transform […] all sectors, in particular through the development of renewable energies”, “through the phasing out of all unexploited fossil fuels”, And by ending deforestation, Doc urges.

The report also provides a list of recommendations for countries to improve the situation, such as the need Much more ambitious […] To implement national mitigation actions and set more ambitious targets To reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 43% by 2030 and 60% by 2035 compared to 2019 levels, and ultimately achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 globally.

Unsurprisingly, the text invites the world to spread “quickly” the current clean technologies during acceleration Innovation, development and transfer of new technologies in order to meet the needs of developing countries. On the financing side, publishing “strategic” of international public funds is still a “a basic incentive to work” climate, the document notes.

The real signal would be “what comes out of COP28”

There is a glimmer emerging in the nightmare of the climate emergency. positive, Adaptation plans and commitments are becoming increasingly ambitious. We recognize the United Nations, although most of the efforts have been noted “Sectoral and unevenly distributed among regions.”

To reach these conclusions, “There were three technical dialogues between country representatives, scholars and members of civil society.” explains Lola Vallejo. The aim is to review all areas of climate action: reducing emissions but also adapting to current and future impacts, irreversible losses caused by climate change, and mobilizing the financial flows and investments needed for the transition. Energy… For a specialist, the real signal will be What will come out of COP28? Where world leaders will have a choice between ignoring the emergency and leading humanity into the unknown, or implementing ambitious policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.