“EMPTY WORDS”
Regardless of political obstacles, there are indicators the transition is starting.
In October, the IEA mentioned clear know-how was attracting twice the funding of fossil fuels and by 2030, half the world’s electrical energy would come from low-carbon sources.
“However with greater power use even quick renewables progress would not translate to quick falls in CO2 emissions,” mentioned Dave Jones from suppose tank Ember.
In October, G20 leaders – whose economies account for three-quarters of world emissions – reaffirmed they might shift away from fossil fuels.
However the hole between what international locations say and what they do is critical, mentioned Anne Olhoff, co-author of a damning UN scorecard revealed in October.
Prior to now yr, only one nation – Madagascar – had introduced more durable local weather insurance policies, it mentioned.
“If we have a look at motion and ambition, nothing a lot has occurred on the world stage since final yr’s report,” Olhoff mentioned.
Nations face strain to articulate what concrete steps they’re taking to wean off fossil fuels of their subsequent nationwide local weather plans, due early 2025.
Many are promising daring insurance policies that align with agreed warming limits, however are approving new oil and fuel fields – an not possible contradiction, says the UN’s professional local weather panel.
The “worst culprits” had been wealthy Western nations, mentioned Oil Change Worldwide and different activist teams in October. However the United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan and Brazil – the COP28, COP29 and COP30 hosts, respectively – had been additionally ramping up fossil gasoline manufacturing, they mentioned.
In the meantime, world temperatures proceed to rise, unleashing devastating impacts on individuals and ecosystems.
“After we speak about local weather pledges we’re speaking about extra than simply arbitrary, empty phrases,” mentioned Andreas Sieber from activist group 350.org.
