World must cut emissions by 18% in four years ‘to find our way back’, UN says
Action needed to avoid disastrous overshoot of climate targets, according to organisation’s environment body
TL;DR
- Global carbon emissions must be cut by 18% by 2030 and 45% by 2045 to limit temperature rises to 1.7C.
- The window to stay within the 1.5C climate target has closed, but a brief overshoot is still manageable.
- Countries are failing to convert long-term emissions reduction targets into short-term actions.
- Current policies project a temperature rise of 2.8C above preindustrial levels, endangering global life.
- Cutting methane emissions is identified as a way to limit warming quickly.
- Major fossil fuel producers, like the US and Saudi Arabia, are urged to stop delaying action.