Contrary to pledges to cut fossil fuel production, government policies worldwide will add up to a doubling of production in 2030, a new report from the UN Environment Program disclosed last week.
“The 2023 Production Gap report is a startling indictment of runaway climate carelessness,” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said in his message accompanying the landmark report.
The hike in fuel extraction comes despite 151 national governments having pledged to achieve net-zero emissions.
The latest forecasts suggest that global coal, oil, and gas demand will peak this decade, even without new policies.
When combined, government plans would lead to an increase in global coal production until 2030, while global oil and gas production will continue growing until at least 2050.
“In other words, governments are literally doubling down on fossil fuel production; that spells double trouble for people and planet,” the UN chief said.
The research conducted by Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), Climate Analytics, E3G, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the UNEP urges countries to aim for a near total phase-out of coal production and use by 2040.
The report also calls for at least a 75 percent reduction in oil and gas production by 2050, compared with 2020 levels. All this is of paramount importance since risks and uncertainties of carbon capture and storage, as well as carbon dioxide removal, are significant.
While 17 of the 20 countries featured in the report have pledged to achieve net-zero emissions―and many have launched initiatives to cut emissions from fossil fuel production activities―none have committed to reduce coal, oil, and gas production in line with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.UNEP News
Although at the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow two years ago governments agreed to accelerate efforts towards “the phasedown of unabated coal power, the production and use of fossil fuels has still reached record high levels.
“Countries must phase out coal―by 2030 in OECD countries and 2040 elsewhere. And the G20 must take the lead in ending licensing and funding for new oil and gas,” said Guterres, calling on world leaders to “save humanity from the worst impacts of climate chaos, and profit from the extraordinary benefits of renewable energy.”
July 2023 was the hottest month ever recorded, and most likely the hottest for the past 120,000 years, according to scientists. Across the globe, deadly heat waves, droughts, wildfires, storms and floods are costing lives and livelihoods, making clear that human-induced climate change is here. Global carbon dioxide emissions―90 percent of which come from fossil fuels―rose to record highs in 2021–2022.
The report co-authors believe that governments with greater capacity to transition away from fossil fuels should aim for more ambitious reductions and help support the transition processes in countries with limited resources.
The UN chief thinks that at COP28―the UN climate summit in Dubai at the end of this month―world leaders must send a clear signal that “the fossil fuel age is out of gas―that its end is inevitable.”
For that to happen, credible commitments to ramp up renewables, phase out fossil fuels and boost energy efficiency are needed to safeguard a just and equitable transition.
“Fossil fuels are sending essential climate goals up in smoke. It’s time for change,” said Guterres. UNEP News
