An assessment of new pledges by the UN environment programme yesterday has found the COP26 climate summit will likely do little to slow global warming, and earth is still on course for a “catastrophic” temperature rise of 2.7 degrees this century.
The UN report highlights the challenges facing climate negotiations, giving the gap between the emissions cuts needed this decade and the continuing increases in greenhouse gases pumped into the atmosphere.
COP26 President Alok Sharma has acknowledged that although several pledges such as India’s net-zero commitment could have a significant effect, he says the report calls on nations to sharply accelerate their greenhouse gas cuts this decade.