UNEP Emissions Gap report shows world on track for 2.7°C warming

“The latest Emissions Gap report makes for grim reading and needs to focus the attention of world leaders ahead of COP26 next week. Despite announcements in recent days on both emissions cuts and climate finance by richer nations, none of the plans submitted by the G20 nations are aligned with keeping global warming under 1.5°C.

“Every 0.1°C of warming means more upheaval, more disaster, more lives lost and it’s poor and vulnerable communities that are being hit first and worst. Over the last 50 years, more than two thirds of worldwide deaths caused by climate-related disasters were in the least developed countries.

“The fate of the planet lies in the hands of the biggest economies and the major polluters. These countries can avert a great deal of suffering and loss by ratcheting up their ambition to cut emissions at COP26.”