World "miles short' of emissions goals to curb climate change, U.N. says
Paris — Greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere reached record highs in 2023, the United Nations warned on Monday, saying countries are falling "miles short" of what's needed to curb devastating global warming.Levels of the three main greenhouse gases -- heat-trapping carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide -- all increased yet again last year, said the World Meteorological Organization, the U.N.'s weather and climate agency. Carbon dioxide was accumulating in the atmosphere faster than ever, up more than 10 percent in two decades, it added. And a separate U.N. report found that barely a dent is being made in the...
U.N. Climate Change agency says national emissions cutting plans way short of what's needed
Countries' national plans to tackle climate change are nowhere near what is required to prevent the warming of the Earth from ruining every economy and destroying the lives and livelihoods of their citizens, the United N
Ocean’s hidden ‘skin’ could protect us from climate change
Just below the surface of our vast oceans, there exists a a tiny layer less than 2 millimeters deep. This ultra-thin layer, termed "ocean skin," is ever so slightly cooler than the water directly beneath it. This subtle temperature difference might not seem like much, but it acts as an efficient gatekeeper for one of the world's most notorious greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide (CO2). Temperature of ocean skin According to new research, the slightly cooler temperature of the ocean skin increases the amount of CO2 the ocean can absorb. The theory is not new – it has been suggested by lab work...
UN: The world is on track for a catastrophic level of global warming
The Earth is heating up, and the clock is ticking. According to a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Earth is on track for a global temperature rise of 3.1°C by the end of this century. This isn't just an abstract number. It's the difference between a livable future and a world in crisis. If humanity wants to avoid a catastrophic level of global warming, drastic emission cuts must be made now. The UNEP's latest annual report pulls no punches. It's a reminder of the urgent action that is needed to keep global warming to a manageable 1.5°C. Global...
COP16: Can Colombia Lead The Global Fight Against Climate Change?
As international delegates convene in Cali, Colombia for the United Nations COP16 biodiversity conference, the host is dominating the limelight. The Colombian government views the conference as an opportunity to prove itself as a leader in the global movement to combat climate change, biodiversity loss, and other man-made ecological woes.
Current national climate plans ‘fall miles short’ of averting worst impacts – UN
Current national climate plans “fall miles short” of what is required to avert the worst impacts of global warming, the UN has warned.These plans – known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – would see global emissions in 2030 at a level only 2.6% lower than in 2019, according to a report from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).This falls far short of the 43% reduction by 2030 called for by the global Paris Agreement, which commits countries to take action on curbing temperature rises to prevent devastating climate impacts.Simon Stiell, executive secretary of UN Climate Change,...