The world has made progress towards goals set under the 2015 Paris Agreement, but “much more needs to be done” going forwards.
That is one of the key takeaways from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) global stocktake – a practice carried out every five years with the aim of informing the next round of nationally determined contributions (NDCs), set to be put forward in 2025. From this, it found global emissions to date are not in line with modelled global mitigation pathways consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement, nor with longer-term emissions reduction goals.
This leaves the world facing a “rapidly narrowing window” to raise ambition and implement existing commitments to keep warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Adaptation efforts to date have been focused on planned. In turn, they have then failed to drive the broad changes necessary to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability. Losses and damages are already being experienced, meaning going forwards governments need to support systems transformations that can mainstream climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development.
Far more ambition in action and support is needed to implement domestic mitigation measures and set more ambitious NDCs to realise both existing and emerging opportunities across contexts to cut global greenhouse gas emissions by 43% by 2030 and 60% by 2035, when compared to 2019 levels, and hit net zero by 2050.
For example, there are enough cost-effective opportunities to close the 2030 emissions gap, but significant challenges standing in the way to realising them. These include access to and availability of support. This will make creativity and innovation in policymaking and international cooperation “essential”.
Furthermore, with climate change threatening all countries, communities and people, increased adaptation action, alongside enhanced efforts to avert, minimise and address loss and damage are needed urgently to reduce and respond to increasing impacts. This is particularly for those least prepared for change and least able to recover from disasters. It noted that when adaptation is informed and driven by local contexts, populations and priorities, the adequacy and effectiveness of action and support are enhanced. This can also promote “transformational adaptation”.
Looking at how to implement and support action, to scale up and mobilise support for climate action in developing countries, strategic deployment of international public finance is needed. This is still a prime enabler for action, as are efforts to enhance effectiveness. For example, directing climate finance towards meaningful activities and continuing to strengthen monitoring, evaluation and learning promises a more effective meeting of needs, especially for developing countries.
It also noted how making financial flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate resilient development will bring about opportunities to unlock “trillions of dollars” and shift investments to climate action across scales; existing cleaner technologies must be deployed at rapid pace, along with accelerated innovation, development and transfer of new technologies to support the needs of developing countries; and capacity building is “foundational” when it comes to achieving broad-ranging and sustained climate action. This will call for effective country-led and needs-based cooperation, ensuring capacities are enhanced and retained.
Featured Image: Tobias Rademacher on Unsplash
