As countries around the world work towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and meeting the targets set by the Paris Agreement, new research has shown that their plans may not be enough to halt the worst impacts of climate change.
According to the climate plans submitted to the United Nations by 50 countries, there will still be 12 gigatons of carbon dioxide emitted per year by 2050, and these emissions will need to be removed from the atmosphere. While some countries are relying on technological solutions and nature restoration to achieve this, researchers are warning that these plans are not enough.
The situation is worrying, as failure to rapidly reduce carbon emissions could have catastrophic consequences for our planet. Extreme weather events, rising sea levels and loss of biodiversity are just some of the impacts that we could face if we fail to take action now.
In the face of these challenges, it is clear that we need urgent and ambitious action to reduce carbon emissions. We need to invest in renewable energy, improve energy efficiency and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. We also need to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy, encourage innovation and support the development and deployment of new technologies.
All in all, the current climate plans submitted to the UN are not enough to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. We need to take urgent action and make rapid reductions in carbon emissions. Failure to do so could have catastrophic consequences for our planet and future generations.
Edited by Zeng Han-Jun
Written by Juliana Rodriguez
Terra Link Research 