World average temperature will rise 2.9 degrees even if greenhouse gas reduction goal achieved - UN

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

世界平均気温 国連“温室効果ガス削減目標達成でも2.9度上昇”

2023年11月21日 5時29分

国連は各国が2030年に向けて掲げた温室効果ガスの削減目標を達成したとしても、世界の平均気温は今世紀末までに2.9度上昇するという見通しを発表し、対策は不十分だと指摘しました。

UNEP（国連環境計画）は20日、温室効果ガスの排出について分析した報告書を発表しました。

この中で去年の世界の温室効果ガスの排出量はおととしに比べ、1.2％増加し、574億トンと過去最も多かったとしています。

そして、このままでは、各国が2030年に向けて掲げた温室効果ガスの削減目標を達成したとしても、世界の平均気温は今世紀末までに産業革命前に比べ、2.5度から2.9度上昇するという見通しを示しました。

その上で国際社会が目指す、気温の上昇を1.5度に抑えるためには、2030年には42％の削減が必要だとしています。

報告書では先月はじめまでに世界の平均気温の上昇が1.5度を上回る日が86日、観測され、このうち9月は1.8度上回り、記録上、最も暑い月だったと指摘しています。

UNEPは、対策は不十分ですべての国が排出削減を加速させる必要があるとしていて、今月30日から始まる国連の気候変動対策の会議「COP28」を取り組みの強化につなげる機会にすべきだと呼びかけています。

グテーレス事務総長「これ以上、先送りすることはできない」

報告書の発表を受けて国連のグテーレス事務総長は20日、ニューヨークの国連本部で会見し、世界の温室効果ガスの排出削減が不十分だという見通しについて「これらはすべてリーダーシップの失敗であり、弱者への裏切りであり、大きな機会の喪失だ」と述べ、各国の対策の遅れを非難しました。

その上でグテーレス事務総長は「指導者たちは、これ以上、問題を先送りすることはできない。COP28で飛躍的な気候変動対策を掲げなければならない」と述べ、各国がより野心的な合意を目指すべきだと訴えました

Translation

The United Nations announced that even if countries could achieve their greenhouse gas reduction targets for 2030, the global average temperature was expected to rise by 2.9 degrees by the end of this century, pointing out that countermeasures were insufficient.

On the 20th, UNEP (United Nations Environment Program) released a report analyzing greenhouse gas emissions.

Among the analysis, global greenhouse gas emissions last year increased by 1.2% compared to the year before, reaching 57.4 billion tons, the highest ever.

Also, if things continued as they were, even if individual country achieved its greenhouse gas reduction goals set for 2030, it showed that the world's average temperature was expected to rise from 2.5 to reach 2.9 degrees Celsius by the end of this century compared to pre-industrial revolution levels.

Furthermore, in order to limit the temperature to rise to 1.5 degrees, which is the goal of the international community, a 42% reduction is necessary by 2030.

The report pointed out that by up to the beginning of last month, there were 86 days when the global average temperature had increased more than 1.5 degrees Celsius, and the September average temperature went up above 1.8 degrees Celsius was observed, making it the hottest month on record.

UNEP said that measures were insufficient and that all countries needed to accelerate emissions reductions, and called on that the United Nations climate change conference COP28 which would begin on the 30th of this month to use it as an opportunity to strengthen efforts.

Secretary-General Guterres: ``More than ever, we cannot postpone it any longer''

Following the release of the report, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke at a press conference at UN Headquarters in New York on the 20th, commenting on the prospects for insufficient reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions, saying, ``All these are failures of leadership and a betrayal of the weak, and a huge loss of opportunity'', criticizing the delay in taking countermeasures by all countries.

Secretary-General Guterres then stated, ``Leaders, more than ever, cannot postpone the problem any longer. Dramatic measures to combat climate change must put forward at COP28,'' he called for countries to aim for a more ambitious agreement.

So, the UN has pointed that our efforts in dealing with climate change is not enough. Even if individual country achieves its greenhouse gas reduction goals set for 2030, the world's average temperature is expected to rise by 2.9 degrees Celsius by the end of this century compared. For obvious reasons, both the US and China will continue to be greenhouse gas emissions big countries.