Skip to content
26 October 2021

UN report warns gap remains between emissions targets and current plans

A report released on October 26th, 2021 by the United Nations reviews the current, updated climate mitigation plans of world nations and compares them to the reductions necessary to avert climate disaster. The report concludes that, despite improved plans and more ambitious country-level goals, the efforts will still fall short of the 1.5 degrees Celsius mark at which climate scientists estimate the impacts of climate change to become drastic and irreversible.

With the updated plans, including 50 nations committing to net-zero goals, the total possible reductions could limit global temperature increase to 2.2 degrees Celsius by 2100. Whether these goals are realistic or feasible is uncertain and, subsequently, the reality of their realization clouded with doubt.

With world leaders gathering in Glasgow for COP 26 beginning October 31st, 2021, the time to lift aims even higher is now, a willingness already signaled by major leaders including the US and combined European Union block, as well as China.

Read the report on the UNEP website