UN warns global carbon emission must be cut 42% by 2030 to meet Paris Agreement targets

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – The UN Environment Program (UNEP) warned on Monday that global carbon emissions must be cut by 42% by the end of the decade to meet the Paris Agreement’s benchmark of keeping climate change below 1.5C.

In its annual emission gas report, the report said, “Predicted 2030 greenhouse gas emissions must fall by 28 per cent for the Paris Agreement 2°C pathway and 42 per cent for the 1.5°C pathway.”

According to the report, fully implementing unconditional Nationally Determined Contributions made under the Paris Agreement would put the world on track for limiting temperature rise to 2.9C above pre-industrial levels this century.

Calling on nations to accelerate economy-wide, low-carbon development transformations, the report added: “Countries with greater capacity and responsibility for emissions will need to take more ambitious action and support developing nations as they pursue low-emissions development growth.”

“There is no person or economy left on the planet untouched by climate change, so we need to stop setting unwanted records on greenhouse gas emissions, global temperature highs, and extreme weather,” said Inger Andersen, executive director of the UNEP.