Lessons from COP28: How to save what we can
- The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recently released its 14th Emissions Gap Report (2023).
- The report detailed how much humanity needs to cut down its carbon emissions to limit the global temperature rise.
Emissions Gap Measurement
- The emission gap measures the disparity between planned emission levels and the necessary levels to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C by 2100.
- The report underscores the urgency of global efforts to address climate change.
- The report focuses on the global shortfall in efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C compared to the pre-industrial period.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Impact
- The average temperature of Earth has been on the rise.
- There is a huge amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) being generated from energy-related activities, industry, agriculture and land use and waste.
- GHGs, including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, nitrous oxide, trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to temperature rise and associated climate impacts.
- Compared to pre-industrial temperature, Earth’s mean temperature has already increased by about 1 °C .
- This has caused unprecedented rains, floods, increased droughts, severe storms, cyclones, etc.
Contributors to GHG Emissions
- Fossil fuel burning for power generation, transport, manufacturing, construction, buildings, and industry contributes significantly to CO2 emissions.
- Most of the CO2 generated is through the burning of fossil fuels for power generation and process heat (43 percent)
Reducing GHG Emissions
- As far as power generation is concerned, to move away from fossil fuels, we need to adopt renewable generation, mainly solar and wind.
- For the transport sector, one needs to move to electric and also hydrogen-based vehicles.
- Replacing fossil fuels in the industrial sector is the most difficult task.
- Since renewable energy cannot supply high-intensity heat required for industries like iron and steel and aluminium.
Developed vs. Developing World Responsibilities
- Moving away from fossil fuels is a capital-intensive process and developing countries are not in a position to fund such activities.
- Hence, there is a need for the developed world to transfer not only finance but also technology.
- Developed countries, responsible for significant emissions historically, should provide financial aid and technology transfer, aligning with the "polluter pays" principle.
- Countries like the US have a cumulative CO2 emission which is 25 percent of the global emissions.
- The corresponding figures for the EU and China are 22 percent and 12.7 percent, respectively.
- As compared to this, India’s cumulative emissions are only 3 percent.
- In per capita terms also, it is only 1.8 tons, where the world average is 4.7 tons.
Climate Finance
- Since the past 15 years or so, there has been talk of transferring resources to the tune of $100 billion per year to developing countries.
- However, it is only about 15 percent compared to what is required to fund adequate mitigation and adaptation activities.
- But this is not really happening.
- The loss and damage fund, addressing climate-related losses, has seen progress, but decisions on the global stock take report are pending.
- COP28 discussions involve critical issues, including the global stock take report, climate equity and the phase-out of fossil fuels.
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
- The latest UNEP report suggests a projected temperature rise between 2.5 to 2.9 °C by 2100 based on current NDCs.
- Urgent action is needed to bridge the emissions gap and align efforts with the goal of limiting temperature rise.