Context:

• The 13th edition of EGR has released recently in 2022 by UNEP.

Key features EGR 2022:

• Report focused on the Trend of Global Greenhouse gas emissions.

• Report Prepared by: UNEP. 

• Title of the Report: The Closing Window – Climate crisis calls for rapid transformation of societies

• Background: UNEP Copenhagen Climate Center (CCC) has started publishing it since 2011.

Major points of Emission Gap Report 2022:

• The research suggested a dire need of system-wide change and reduction in GHG emissions over the 8 years.

• The report has found that the world is not following the procedures to meet the targets outlined in the 2015 Paris Agreement.

• If the trends will continue, by 2100, the temp may increase by 2.8°C.

• If the world follow present climate promises the temperature increase will be restricted to 2.4 to 2.6°C.

• To meet the targets of the Paris Agreement by 2030, GHG emissions must be cut by 45%.

• Report suggested to achieve a low- carbon economy, annual investment of 4 to 6 trillion dollar (US) would be needed.

• Report has suggested that GHG in the past decade has slowed compared to the previous decade.

• In the last decade average GHG emissions were the highest on record.

Global Trends:

• Between 2010 and 2019 
  • average annual growth was 1.1 %

• Between 2000 and 2009.
  • It was 2.6% per year

The top 7 emitters:

• China, 
• the EU27, 
• India,
• Indonesia,
• Brazil, 
• The Russian Federation, 
• United States of America (+ international transport) 

contributed for 55% of global GHG emissions in 2020.

• G20 members are responsible for 75% of global GHG emissions.
• India remains below the world average at 2.4 tCO2e. (tone of carbon dioxide equivalent)
• The report highlighted that the food systems are prominent contributors to climate change and other environmental problems such as:
  • Land-use change and biodiversity loss
  • Depletion of freshwater resources
  • Pollution of Marine and terrestrial ecosystem through nitrogen and phosphorus run-off from fertilizer.
• Organic farming’s contribution to the overall reduction in GHG emissions is debatable. 
• An assessment by the UNEP and Climate and Clean Air Coalition in 2021 said that
  • If we reduce the human or farming-related methane emissions by 45% in this decade, it will play a pioneer role in the global battle against climate change.

Recommendations:

• Substitute of technologies are needed in heavy industry to prevent the increase in the carbon intensity of global steel production.
• Presently, the unconditional and conditional NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) are expected to cut global emissions by 5% and 10%, respectively, by 2030.

India’s effort in cutting the Emissions is:

• In August 2022, the Cabinet approved an update of India’s NDC. 

• The updated NDC has focused on major policies being pushed forward, including:
  • Inclusion of agroforestry and private forestry
  • Usage of solar agricultural pumps
  • Clean cooking.
  • Rooftop solar PV.
• The GoI is opting for coal gasification into chemical projects, and using ammonia, and hydrogen as future fuels.

• The Lok Sabha passed the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill on August 2022, aiming to 

• Provide support for the establishment and development of domestic carbon markets.

Way forward:

• Australia, China, India, Iran, and the Russian Federation are large emitters have yet to join the Global methane pledge, 
• The Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use emphasize on the importance of the critical role of forests to meet sustainable development goals by 2030.

Date: 27.10.2022

Source: TH

By: Sudarshan Gurjar