Climate national action plans “appalling and irresponsible” – Oxfam
In reaction to the UNFCCC NDC Synthesis report launched today, Oxfam's Global Climate Policy Lead, Nafkote Dabi, said:
“Today’s report findings are appalling. The combined climate plans submitted account to a dismal 1 per cent emissions reduction, far below the 45 per cent reduction needed to limit global warming below 1.5 degrees, and avoid disastrous impacts on vulnerable communities.
While some countries who have contributed least to the climate crisis have increased their ambition, industrial and rich countries most to blame for global emissions, have miserably failed to step up to their responsibility.
The world’s two biggest emitters – the US and China – are yet to submit their revised Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), while Australia did not bother to revise theirs, and Brazil did not increase their ambitions to cut emissions. Even the EU’s revised target to reduce emissions from 40 per cent to 55 per cent, is still far below their owed 65 per cent reduction fair share to limit global warming. This is irresponsible.
At only 1.1 degree of warming today, those least responsible for the climate crisis are facing head-on climate devastation. Droughts, floods, storms, are fuelling hunger and pushing millions to flee their homes and lose their daily income. With the current global ambition way off track, far worse is yet to face them.
While Canada has yet to submit its updated NDC, it has taken significant steps towards ramping up its climate action including introducing Net-Zero legislation and releasing its updated climate plan. Canada must build on these commitments by delivering a stronger, more ambitious NDC that strives to close the gap in global emissions reductions.
Major emitters, especially the US, EU, and China, should set stronger and ambitious targets to cut their emissions and step up to do their fair share to prevent a climate disaster. Rich countries also need to urgently support the global South to guarantee justice and survival for the most vulnerable.”
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- The IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C released in October 2018 finds that limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require reductions of global human-caused CO2 emissions (carbon dioxide) of 45% by 2030 compared to 2010.
- Figures on climate targets can be found here.
- According to the total greenhouse gas emissions 2016: US: 5.83 billion tons CO2e, China: 11.58 billion tons CO2e, and Canada: 779.21 million tons CO2e, respectively, amounting together to 36.85% (37%) of the global total emission of 49.36 billion CO2e.
- The EU has revised its target to reduce emissions by 55% from 1990 levels by 2030. But to be in line with the 1.5 degrees target, they need to reduce emissions by 65% from 1990 levels by 2030.