UN Climate Report: Urgent action needed this decade

Environmental campaigners have said that the latest UN climate report must ‘put a rocket under’ politicians to deliver cuts to climate pollution this decade.

The UN Emissions Gap ‘The Closing Window’ report found:

• Policies currently in place point to a 2.8°C temperature rise by the end of the century
• Emissions must fall by 45% by 2030 is needed for limiting global warming to 1.5°C
• Updated pledges submitted since COP26 shave less than 1% off global emissions by 2030
• “Only an urgent system-wide transformation can deliver the enormous cuts needed to limit greenhouse gas emissions by 2030”
• “The credibility and feasibility of the net-zero emission pledges remains very uncertain”
• Lock-in of new fossil fuel intensive infrastructure must be avoided

Friends of the Earth Scotland’s head of campaigns Mary Church said:

“The reports keep coming and the message keeps getting more urgent: rich nations must supercharge action to cut emissions this decade. Governments say they are committed to limiting warming to 1.5c but those words are totally meaningless without the action to deliver on it. This latest analysis should put a rocket under politicians at home and around the world.

“The Scottish Government must urgently scale up its plans to cut climate pollution, starting with the forthcoming Energy Strategy. This plan should see an end date on oil and gas in Scotland within the decade and deliver a rapid and fair transition to a renewable-powered economy with decent green jobs and affordable energy for all.

“By ending fuel poverty, powering our transport and homes with renewables and supporting community energy, Scottish Ministers can deliver the urgent climate action needed as well putting in place the infrastructure to avoid a repeat of this devastating cost of living crisis.”

ENDS