Action needed to avoid disastrous overshoot of climate targets, according to organisation’s environment body

The world needs to cut carbon emissions by nearly a fifth in the next four years, and by close to half within a decade, to avoid overshooting climate targets by a disastrous margin.

Although the “window has closed” on holding temperature rises to 1.5C, in line with scientific advice, limiting the “overshoot” of that target is still possible, according to the UN Environment Programme (Unep).

But countries are failing to translate their long-term targets on reducing emissions into short-term actions, a report on the “emissions gap” between climate goals and policies has found.

  • Tiral@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    2 hours ago

    Well China opened like 50 coal power plants in 2025 alone, they have roughly 2,000 in operation. Second is India with like 230, and the US is third with about 213.

    So let’s guess where a good place to start is. Might fix the AQI so it isn’t pegged at 999, for reference New York City is typically 12-22.

    • NathanRanch@lemmy.zip
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      2 hours ago

      Per person we’re still the biggest polluter. I don’t think it’s even that close. Feel free to check this.

    • shalafi@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      arrow-down
      9
      ·
      5 hours ago

      An F150 can get as much as 25mpg while my wife’s Volvo S60 gets 30mpg.

        • shalafi@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          arrow-down
          6
          ·
          3 hours ago

          That new trucks aren’t necessarily gas guzzlers, they’re clearly worse, but only the monster powertrains with monster price tags are stupid awful. No one bags on me for my 2004 F150 because it’s neither huge nor a pavement princess, but it gets half the mileage of a new one.

          I left out hybrids so as to compare apples to apples. If we want to go there, there are hybrid versions of my wife’s car.

          • Yerbouti@sh.itjust.works
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            3
            ·
            2 hours ago

            I’m comparing cars with cars. The vast majority of pickup owners don’t need a truck. The average owners uses the bed of the truck twice a year. Just look at how shinny and clean all the pickup on the roads are.

  • floquant@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    14
    ·
    7 hours ago

    Enough with these “by X years” projections, it keeps giving governments that there’s still time to kick the can. Just publish “this is how much we are over the emissions budget TODAY” and make it clear that as long as it’s above 0 that means we are truly, really fucking ourselves and future generations.

    • Johanno@feddit.org
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      5 hours ago

      While true, it won’t bother those in power and those with money…

      Cutting down on emissions is expensive and nobody with the power to change anything wants to be the one who is responsible for everything getting expensive

    • Darkonion@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      5 hours ago

      I envision a rocket flying directly into the sun and the two pilots discussing when they should start turning.

      • couldhavebeenyou@lemmy.zip
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        5 hours ago

        China is still expanding with coal and pinky promising they will peak in 2030 before going down

        Expensive oil will help but won’t do enough

        • Malica@lemmy.zip
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          5 hours ago

          China is doing much better than the rest of the world in converting to renewables imo, can’t happen overnight.

        • shalafi@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          5 hours ago

          I’m no Sino cheerleader, but China has a plan and is executing. Love 'em or hate 'em, the 21st century is China’s century.

          • couldhavebeenyou@lemmy.zip
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            3
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            4 hours ago

            Yeah they’ve got a plan to keep expanding emmissions

            I don’t really see how that’s a thing to cheer for under this cry for help in the OP

            • shalafi@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              1
              arrow-down
              2
              ·
              3 hours ago

              China’s doing what every industrial nation did in the 20th century, pollute their way to the top, but at least they’re doing it with a plan to roll back. Here in America we’re purposefully making emissions worse with no future plans.

              I also find it amusing when Westerners bitch about China doing exactly what they did to get on top economically.

              “Hey! You can’t do the bad shit we did!”

              “I learned it from you dad!” :)

              China’s coal use per capita is monstrous, but oil use per capita is falling. Given that their green energy exports are not carbon-free manufacturing, well, TANSTAAFL.

    • hneerqe@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      8 hours ago

      Duh it’s not anthropogenic, obviously nothing will work. The ‘urgency’ will get worse and worse and all they’ll come up with is carbon tax, carbon allowance, restrictions for everyone except epstein class. Instead of prepping. Its so fucking obvious, I’m dumb as fuck and I can see it. Embarrassing.