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Global emissions higher than ever before - "inevitable that we will exceed 1.5 degree target"

Global emissions higher than ever before - "inevitable that we will exceed 1.5 degree target"

Global emissions higher than ever before - "inevitable that we will exceed 1.5 degree target"
Global emissions higher than ever before - "inevitable that we will exceed 1.5 degree target"

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The Earth's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuels are on the rise again, and experts fear we're inching closer to the 1.5-degree warming target set at the Paris Climate Conference. The latest Global Carbon Budget report warns that global emissions are on track to reach a record 36.8 billion tons in 2023, a 1.1% increase from last year and 1.4% more than pre-pandemic times.

University of Exeter research leader Pierre Friedlingstein is among those voicing concern, noting the sluggish progress in reducing carbon emissions from fossil fuels despite the evident impacts of climate change. The report, co-authored by over 120 experts and published in the journal "Earth System Science Data," highlights a grim reality: the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is projected to be 419.3 parts per million in 2023, 51% higher than in 1750.

Climate experts, like Julia Pongratz from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, point out that even tiny increases in temperature could have massive consequences for our efforts against the climate crisis. The report estimates that the CO2 budget necessary to achieve the 1.5-degree target will be depleted in about seven years at the current 2023 emission level, requiring swift and decisive action.

But the problem is not confined to industrialized nations like Germany. Emerging economies like China and India have played a significant role in the rise in CO2 emissions. In 2023, China, responsible for 31% of global fossil CO2 emissions, increased them by 4% compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, the US reduced its emissions by 3.0%, and the EU by as much as 7.4%. The ongoing headache for scientists is that land use change, particularly deforestation, also contributes to emissions, releasing an estimated 4.1 billion tons of CO2 in 2023.

However, there's hope. Technological solutions like direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS) could be game-changers. Although these technologies currently contribute minuscule reduction, they'll likely play a critical role in future efforts to combat climate change. For instance, there are already countries implementing policy changes, like increased investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and clean technologies, that show promise.

But accelerating global efforts requires a multifaceted approach considering both policy and technological strategies. Diversifying carbon dioxide removal (CDR) portfolios, enhancing renewable energy deployment, promoting energy efficiency, implementing ambitious national determined contributions (NDCs), addressing emissions growth in emerging economies, and enhancing international cooperation and policy frameworks are all essential components of this effort.

In conclusion, although the current global emissions trajectory poses challenges, strategic implementation of these measures provides a glimmer of hope for meeting the 1.5-degree target set at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference. It's time for all nations to take decisive action to reduce CO2 emissions and stem the tide of climate change.

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