Emissions Gap Report

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The Emissions Gap Report is a regularly published report by the United Nations on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change . It is intended to document the gap between the international community's obligations on CO 2 emissions (most recently in the Paris Agreement ) and what has actually been achieved. It is written by a renowned international team of climate scientists and published by the United Nations Environment Program .

Emissions Gap Report 2018

The Emissions Gap Report published in 2018 assumes that the international community would have to triple its efforts to achieve the two-degree target . A continuation of current trends instead makes it probable that the earth temperature will be 3.2 degrees higher than the pre-industrial level in the reference year 2100, which would lead to dramatic consequences, such as the dreaded “ greenhouse earth ” scenario in the long term . Lately, CO 2 emissions are increasing instead of falling. According to the report, only three countries, Brazil , China and Japan , met the climate targets set for 2030. The report shows that to combat theClimate crisis a consistent CO 2 pricing would be conceivable and indicates an effective price per tonne of CO 2 at 34 to 68 €, which would be significantly higher than in the emissions trading systems used up to now .

Emissions Gap Report 2019

The 2019 report describes the results as “bleak”. Despite scientific warnings and political commitments, greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. The G20 members cause 78% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. Although the number of states announcing net zero greenhouse gas emissions targets for 2050 is increasing, only a few states have so far formally submitted long-term strategies to the UNFCCC . The emissions gap is large. In 2030, annual emissions must be 15 gigatons of CO 2 equivalent (GtCO2e) below the current unconditional nationally defined contributions for the 2 ° C targetand 32 GtCO2e for the 1.5 ° C target . A drastic increase in the nationally set contributions will be necessary in 2020. The states must triple their ambitions for nationally determined contributions to achieve the target of well below 2 ° C and more than fivefold to achieve the 1.5 ° C target. Reinforced action by G20 members will be critical to global mitigation efforts. The decarbonization of the world economy requires fundamental structural changes that should aim to create multiple shared benefits for humanity and planetary support systems. Renewable energies and energy efficiencyIn connection with the electrification of end users, are the key to a successful energy transition and to reducing energy-related CO 2 emissions. Demand-side material efficiency offers significant opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, complementing those achieved by transforming the energy system.

Emissions Gap Report 2020

The 2020 report shows that the global community is “absolutely not” on track to close the emissions gap. Greenhouse gas emissions continued to increase in 2019, with CO 2 emissions likely to fall by around 7% in 2020 compared to the previous year due to the COVID-19 pandemic . However, the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere continues to rise. The COVID-19 crisis only leads to a short-term reduction in global emissions and has no significant effect on the reduction by 2030. The number of states that will be net zero by around the middle of the century- Commitment to emissions targets grew in the reporting period. However, it turns out that the G20 members are missing their national goals. The emissions gap has not been reduced compared to 2019. The national targets are insufficient to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and would lead to a temperature increase of at least 3 degrees - with dramatic consequences for the survival of our planet. So far, in the context of the COVID crisis, the opportunity has largely been missed to use fiscal measures to stimulate the economy at the same time to create a green turnaround. The emissions of the richest 1 percent of the world's population are more than double the total share of the poorest 50 percent. The report also shows that shipping and aviation currently account for around 5% of global CO2 emissions and this proportion could increase significantly. The current policy framework for tackling emissions in this area is weak.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Emissions Gap Report 2018. United Nations Environment Program, November 28, 2018, accessed on December 6, 2020 .
  2. ↑ Emissions Gap Report 2019. United Nations Environment Program, November 26, 2019, accessed on December 6, 2020 .
  3. ↑ Emissions Gap Report 2020. United Nations Environment Program, December 1, 2020, accessed on December 6, 2020 .