The Intelligence from The Economist Global warning: The UN sounds the alarm on climate change
Nov 27, 2019
Catherine Braik, Environment editor for The Economist, dives into the UN's latest Emissions Gap Report, highlighting alarming record levels of greenhouse gases and the failure to meet climate goals. She underscores the urgent need for collective action to combat climate change by 2050. The discussion also touches on the fascinating resurgence of China's regional dialects in personal and social settings, alongside a surprising study showing how Uber has reportedly increased urban drinking habits, raising public health concerns.
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Bleak Climate Outlook
- The UN's Emissions Gap Report reveals a bleak outlook on climate change, with greenhouse gas emissions at record highs.
- The report's findings follow a year of devastating climate-related disasters, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
Emissions Rising
- Global greenhouse gas emissions are rising by 1.5% annually, reaching 55.3 billion tons in 2018.
- This trajectory is far off the Paris Agreement's goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, necessary to limit warming to 1.5 degrees.
Reasons for Rising Emissions
- Despite the Paris Agreement, emissions are rising due to the continued growth of emissions-driving industries.
- The G20 countries, responsible for over three-quarters of emissions, lack full commitment to net-zero targets, with some major emitters like the US withdrawing from the agreement.