A new report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) warns that the rise in global temperatures due to years of insufficient action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has reached an unavoidable stage. The report emphasizes that if current climate policies continue, temperatures will rise on average by 2.8 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels this century.
Worrying Results
The report indicates that only by adhering to new climate commitments will global warming reach about 2.6 degrees Celsius. Both scenarios could push the world into a period of catastrophic weather conditions. These predictions highlight a significant gap between what governments have promised and the actions taken to reduce emissions. Approximately 167 countries have submitted their climate action plans to the United Nations, covering 83% of total global greenhouse gas emissions, but these promises fall significantly short of what is needed to limit warming.
Read more: Access to public lands should unite all Americans
Impact of Trump's Policies
According to initial estimates, by 2025, greenhouse gas emissions in major countries like Indonesia, China, and the United States have increased. The rise in emissions in the United States is particularly due to a return to coal usage and increased electricity demand related to the expansion of artificial intelligence data centers. This situation has been especially influenced by the United States' withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement during Donald Trump's presidency.
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen stated, "We must do everything we can to limit warming to a maximum of 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. This is possible." The report also points to existing successes in reducing emissions, noting that carbon pricing programs in various countries have helped reduce emissions. For example, pilot schemes in China have led to an average reduction of 11% in emissions.
To prevent increasing risks from global warming, countries must rapidly move away from fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy. The report emphasizes that every degree of temperature increase brings more risks, and immediate action is essential to reduce emissions.
Read more: Rescuing a deer in Idaho from a wire fence · Senator Bill Cassidy: Ronald Reagan and Lindsey Graham would be ashamed of Trump's decision to lift sanctions on Russia
