As the world anticipates the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP28, countries are preparing to evaluate their progress in the ongoing battle against global warming. This crucial gathering allows nations to collaborate on climate goals, from achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 to reaching peak emissions by 2030. The aim is to assess the effectiveness of current climate commitments, especially in limiting global warming.
Pledges For Controlling Increasing Temperatures:
While previous research indicates that existing pledges may steer the world toward keeping temperature increases below the critical threshold of 2 degrees Celsius, the original aspiration set by the Paris Agreement still needs to be put within reach. This international climate accord, signed by 196 countries in 2015, established the ambitious goal of capping global warming at 1.5 degrees by the end of this century. However, according to experts, a sobering reality prevails: the world is far from achieving this target.
Haewon McJeon, a visiting professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology, emphasizes the inadequacy of current climate pledges. “We took stock of the current climate pledges around the world, and it all falls far short of the 1.5-degree goal. It’s not enough.”
Three Key Global Strategies for Climate:
In a recently published commentary in One Earth, researchers shed light on three paramount global efforts that could rekindle the prospect of attaining the elusive 1.5-degree goal. These endeavors are designed to combat climate change effectively by targeting areas significantly impacting global temperatures.
Curbing Non-CO2 Emissions:
Non-CO2 emissions, such as methane and fluoridated gases, significantly contribute to global warming. These gases potently trap heat in the atmosphere, making them a focal point for mitigation efforts. Reining these emissions is vital, and success in this domain could significantly contribute to achieving the 1.5-degree goal.
Intensifying Carbon Dioxide Removal:
Efforts to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere are crucial in combating climate change. Scaling up carbon dioxide removal technologies and strategies makes it possible to effectively reduce this greenhouse gas concentration. Such actions can be pivotal in moving closer to the 1.5-degree target.
ALSO READ: ‘Climate Change Disproportionately Affects Women And Is Not Gender Neutral’
Halt Deforestation:
Deforestation remains a pressing issue in the fight against global warming. The loss of forests not only reduces the planet’s capacity to absorb CO2 but also leads to the release of stored carbon. Halting deforestation and promoting reforestation efforts are indispensable for climate mitigation and rekindling hope for the 1.5-degree goal.
In conclusion, as COP28 approaches, nations must recognize the situation’s urgency. Achieving the 1.5-degree goal set by the Paris Agreement requires renewed dedication to these three vital strategies. By taking decisive action on non-CO2 emissions, carbon dioxide removal, and deforestation, the world can steer its course back towards the 1.5-degree target, averting the worst impacts of climate change.
