Emissions Gap Report 2024 on climate goals

Nations must collectively commit to cut 42% of annual emissions by 2030 and 57% by 2035 in the next round of nationally determined contributions in February 2025 and back this up with action

The Emissions Gap Report 2024 conducted by United Nations Environment Programme continues to make it clear that global climate goals will require more efforts than are being implemented now. It was titled, "No More Hot Air please!", demonstrates the stark disparity between present efforts and the steps needed to keep global warming far below 2°C, with the Paris Agreement's goal of maintaining it at 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Current Trajectory and Risks

The report opines that at the current pace and if nations maintain their environmental policies, the global temperatures are expected to increase by 3.1°C above levels recorded before industrialisation. The majority of the NDCs are not even realistic, yet if all of them are fully achieved, the world remains on a path to a 2.6°C increase. This overshoot holds grave dangers for the natural environment, economic systems and societies everywhere.

Trends of emissions and sources of emission

The report shows that greenhouse gas emissions around the world grew to 57.1 billion metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) in 2023. India’s emissions increased by 6.1% and global emissions by 1.2%, compared to the emissions level in 2022. The G20 countries excluding African Union were responsible for emitting 77% of the global emissions in 2023, with the six worst offenders producing 63% of global emissions.

Required Emissions Reductions

Greenhouse gas emissions must peak before 2025 and drop by forty three percent by 2030 in order to keep global warming to required level. This requires annual reductions of at least 7.5% until 2035. For the 2°C target, reductions of 28% by 2030 and 37% by 2035 are necessary. The report points out that for countries to transition to lower emissions, major improvements are required on the current NDCs in order to close the emissions gap and thereby avert the effects of climate change.

Economic and Social Consideration

The cost of bridging the emissions gap is estimated to be between $900 billion and $2.1 trillion annually, or about 1% of global GDP. Climate change affects food production, water supply, health, and income, in the vulnerable areas. Investment aimed at reducing climate change will generate large future returns on investment in the form of better health of people in most countries, and reduction of costs of adaptation to climate change impacts.

Problem Areas of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

1. Rising Global Emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions continued to rise and recorded a value of 57.1 billion metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) in 2023, an increase from the previous year by 1.3 %. This upward trend is driven by various factors, including economic growth, industrial activities, and energy consumption.

2. The lack of commitment on the part of States for the establishment of a National Climate Agreement

The report also shows that current NDCs offer insufficient action in order to achieve the parameters of the global Paris Agreement. When we analyze even the most optimistic targets and commitments as presented by the NDCs, the world will be on a path to warm by at least 2.6°C.

3. Unequal distribution of emission contribution

It was established that there exist very differences in greenhouse gases emission among different countries. Excluding the African Union, the greenhouse gases emission of the economies of the G20 countries accounted for 77% of global emissions in 2023. The top six emitters in the countries produced 63% of global emissions. Such an aspect shows that there must be more commitment and effort by the largest contributors to emissions.

4. Per capita emissions Disparity

5. Sector-Specific Challenges

Some industries produce higher carbon footprints than others do. The energy sector makes up the majority of the contribution; burning fossil fuels produces heat and power. Other activities that also contribute include industrial, agriculture, forestry and other land uses. The best emphasis in the report is made on the call for special measures in relation to emissions in these sectors.

6. The lacked international cooperation

But to a large extent, the constant increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme climatic events makes it possible and imperative to have improved international cooperation on climate change. The study also urges nations to work collectively and calls for donor countries, including rich developed countries, to assist developing countries to move to low carbon emitting economies. A re-establishment in the global financial structure and ringing up the level of mitigation investment is unavoidable at current stage.

7. Lack of Mitigation Investment

The report shows that to get on track towards the 1.5°C target, there must be at least a six-fold rise in mitigation investment. Today’s investment volume is insufficient in addressing the emissions reduction and covering the gap required to achieve a sustainable energy change. Higher appropriations for renewable energy and efficiency, sustainable land use are essential.

8. Policy and Regulatory Gaps

Most countries do not possess clear policy and legislation that would help them regulate traces of greenhouse gas emissions. The report also insists on the need to enhance the policy and enforcement regimes to push for the cuts. To get the most socioeconomic and environmental outcomes in the shortest time possible, governments should use cross-sectorial tools.

9. Technological Barriers

The technological factor affects the utilization of clean energy and sustainability as a limiting factor. The report underlines the potential to increase the share of solar and wind energy which is physically capable of delivering large cuts in emissions. Having regard to the technology nexus and the imperative of translating climate ambition into action, overcoming technological barriers is vital for climate action.

10. Community Relations

Awareness and Engagement of the public is the key to the success of climate change initiatives. The report also focuses on the gaps in understanding the climate change and the messages where people received from various sources, gaps in order to improve the message received about the climate change and taking measures to minimize such impacts. These findings show that to develop a responsive reaction of communities and stakeholders, it is vital to create interactions.

Possible Measures to control Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Reducing the rate of emissions of greenhouse gases is paramount in slowing the effects of climate change and supporting climate change goals. The Emissions Gap Report 2024 provides also several potential mitigation measures that if well applied and adopted they will contribute effectively to cutting emissions and close the gap. Here are key strategies to address greenhouse gas emissions:

1. Accelerating Renewables Climate Change Mitigation

Of all the activities that can help cut on greenhouse emissions one of the most vital is increasing the use of renewable essentially, solar, wind and hydro power. The clean energy sources herein generate electric power with no outputs of carbon dioxide as well as other greenhouse gases. Key actions include:

• Increased Investment: Policy makers and private stakeholders require increasing investments in renewable energy facilities and products.
• Policy Incentives: Government policies makeup are very crucial in promoting the usage of renewable energy through policy instruments like tax credits, subsidies, and feed-in tariffs.
• Grid Modernization: Optimising the electrical grid system to effectively accommodate renewable energy that is normally invariable in situations and strengthening energy storage mechanisms.

2. Improving Energy Efficiency

Improving energy efficiency in a number of industries can result to substantial emission cuts. The Energy conservation entails using less energy to do the same level of work or output and thereby reducing on emissions levels. Key actions include:

• Building Codes and Standards: Setting up hard rules for constructions to be put in place to ensure that they are energy efficient private property and business premises as well as industries.
• Efficient Appliances and Equipment: The first indicator concerns itself with the encouragement of energy-efficient appliances and equipment to customers through the use of regulations and incentives.
• Industrial Processes: Use of efficient system integration and automation in industrial processes and the practical application of already existing energy-efficient systems in the manufacturing industries.

3. Sustainable Use of Land and Forest Resources

Forests are important sinks which removes the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The practices in the sustainable utilisation and management of land and forests can foster the continued effectiveness of this sink. Key actions include:

• Forest Conservation: Preventing any further loss of the existing forests through an enforcement of conservation policies.
• Agroforestry: Using trees on agricultural production landscapes in order to add value to the condition of the soil, boost future production of food, fibre and timber, and store carbon.

4. Gear towards low carbon transportation

Transportation sector contributes higher in the emissions of GHG. Substitution of conventional modes of transport with low-carbon emitting options is a cost-effective way of mitigating emissions related to air pollution. Key actions include:

• Electrification of Vehicles: Focusing on enhancing the number of electric vehicles on the road and improving charging infrastructure by using incentives, installation, and policies.
• Public Transportation: Improving and extending public transport as an effective and environmentally friendly substitute for the use of automobiles.
• Active Transportation: Activities related to promoting the use of active modes of transport – walking, cycling, etc. by means of implementing appropriate transports and urban planning policies.

5. Initiatives towards promoting Circular Economic practices

A circular economy of product is a system of managing such products within the consumers’ lifecycle to achieve optimum utilization in order to reduce wastage through the use of four R’s which includes recycle, reuse, recover, and remanufacture. Key actions include:

• Resource Efficiency: Products that are manufactured with the possibility of being reused rather than replaced and recycled to cut raw material utilization and disposal.
• Waste Management: Promoting good systems in the handling of wastes to improve recycling figures and minimize the generation of Greenhouse gases from landfills.
• Circular Business Models: Promoting circular economy practices at an individual company level as well at a company supply chain level.

6. Multilateralism and Funding

The problem of climate change, on the one hand, underlines the need for improving international cooperation. The G8 countries should extend cooperation in the form of financial and technical assistance to the developing nations so that they can move over to low carbon economy. Key actions include:

• Climate Finance: The global efforts to sourcing of funds for mitigation and adaptation projects in developing nations.
• Technology Transfer: Promoting the clean technologies to the developing nations for advancement of sustainable development.
• Global Partnerships: Extending and enhancing multilateral and bilateral cooperation for enhancing implementation of climate targets.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Since its founding in 1972, the UNEP has been the preeminent worldwide environmental authority. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, UNEP coordinates the UN's environmental activities and assists developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices. Its mission is to provide leadership, encourage partnership, and promote sustainable development through sound environmental policies.

UNEP focuses on policy on climate change, environment and sustainable development, biological diversity and pollution. This organisation performs research work, formulates policies, and provides assistance to actions aimed at solving environmental problems. Others are the Global Environment Outlook (GEO) which provides an outlook of the global environment or the Emissions Gap Report which estimates the level of cuts in greenhouse gas emission.

It is also the organization that collaborates regularly with governments, businesses, and civil society to empower for sustainable environmental management and international cooperation. Overall and systematically, UNEP strives for the achievement of sustainable development for everyone.