Climate goals still lagging behind, UN report reveals

A UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report has revealed that the international community is still falling far short of the climate goals despite the intensifying climate impact being experienced across the globe.

The Emissions Gap Report 2022 finds that despite a decision by all countries at the 2021 climate summit in Glasgow, UK (COP26) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the progress has been inadequate.

"This report tells us in cold scientific terms what nature has been telling us, all year, through deadly floods, storms and raging fires. We have to stop filling our atmosphere with greenhouse gases," said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP said during the launch of the report last week.

He said that while countries have limited time to lower their emissions, there was a need for the transformation of economies and societies to save people from accelerating climate disasters.

The report ranks China, the EU27, India, Indonesia, Brazil, the Russian Federation and the United States of America as the top seven emitters. Together with international transport, they accounted for 55 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2020.

Greenhouse gas emissions by China, India, Russia, Brazil and Indonesia GHG emissions increased in 2021, exceeding levels before 2019.

The report called for urgent transformations in the electricity supply, industry, transport and buildings sectors, as well as the food and financial systems to help in avoiding climate disasters.

"The emissions gap is a by-product of a commitments gap. A promise gap. An action gap. That gap must be filled, starting with COP27 in Egypt," said UN secretary general Antonio Guterres in a video message ahead of the report's release.

The report comes days ahead of the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) scheduled to take place from November 6-18 in Egypt.