Current:Home > FinanceGovernments plan more fossil fuel production despite climate pledges, report says-LoTradeCoin
Governments plan more fossil fuel production despite climate pledges, report says
View Date:2024-12-23 21:25:17
Despite frequent and devastating heat waves, droughts, floods and fire, major fossil fuel-producing countries still plan to extract more than double the amount of fossil fuels in 2030 than is consistent with the Paris climate accord’s goal for limiting global temperature rise, according to a United Nations-backed study released Wednesday.
Coal production needs to ramp sharply down to address climate change, but government plans and projections would lead to increases in global production until 2030, and in global oil and gas production until at least 2050, the Production Gap Report states. This conflicts with government commitments under the climate accord, which seeks to keep global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit).
The report examines the disparity between climate goals and fossil fuel extraction plans, a gap that has remained largely unchanged since it was first quantified in 2019.
“Governments’ plans to expand fossil fuel production are undermining the energy transition needed to achieve net-zero emissions, creating economic risks and throwing humanity’s future into question,” Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, said in a statement.
As world leaders convene for another round of United Nations climate talks at the end of the month in Dubai, seeking to curb greenhouse gases, Andersen said nations must “unite behind a managed and equitable phase-out of coal, oil and gas — to ease the turbulence ahead and benefit every person on this planet.”
The report is produced by the Stockholm Environment Institute, Climate Analytics, E3G, International Institute for Sustainable Development, and UNEP. They say countries should aim for a near-total phase-out of coal production and use by 2040 and a combined reduction in oil and gas production and use by three-quarters by 2050 from 2020 levels, at a minimum.
But instead, the analysis found that in aggregate, governments plan to produce about 110% more fossil fuels in 2030 than what’s needed to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit), and 69% more than would be consistent with the less protective goal of 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). These global discrepancies increase even more toward 2050.
Soon after the release of the 2021 Production Gap Report, U.N. climate talks were held in Glasgow, Scotland, and governments agreed to accelerate the transition away from “unabated” coal power, meaning coal-fed power plants where carbon dioxide comes out of the smokestack. A transition away from that kind of electricity is underway in many places, including Germany, Canada, South Africa and the United States. But major oil and gas producers continue to expand, the report states.
More than 80 researchers from over 30 countries contributed, examining 20 major fossil fuel-producing countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. They found that while most have launched initiatives to cut emissions, none have committed to reducing coal, oil and gas production enough to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit).
Combined, these countries account for 82% of production, and 73% of consumption, of the world’s fossil fuels, the report states.
Ploy Achakulwisut, a lead author and SEI scientist, said many governments are promoting natural gas — which she referred to as fossil gas — as an essential transition fuel, but with no apparent plans to transition away later.
The organizations are calling for governments to reduce fossil fuel production in line with climate goals, and to be more transparent. They want wealthier countries to aim for more ambitious reductions and support the transition processes in poorer countries.
___
Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
veryGood! (1)
Related
- Women suing over Idaho’s abortion ban describe dangerous pregnancies, becoming ‘medical refugees’
- Father of teenage suspect in North Carolina mass shooting pleads guilty to gun storage crime
- DOJ's Visa antitrust lawsuit alleges debit card company monopoly
- Bridgerton Ball in Detroit Compared to Willy's Chocolate Experience Over Scam Fan Event
- My Chemical Romance returns with ‘The Black Parade’ tour
- Alabama Jailer pleads guilty in case of incarcerated man who froze to death
- Marcellus Williams executed in Missouri amid strong innocence claims: 'It is murder'
- DWTS’ Brooks Nader and Gleb Savchenko Detail “Chemistry” After Addressing Romance Rumors
- BITFII Introduce
- Demi Lovato doesn’t remember much of her time on Disney Channel. It's called dissociation.
Ranking
- Princess Kate makes rare public appearance after completing cancer chemo
- Ellen DeGeneres says she went to therapy amid toxic workplace scandal in final comedy special
- Margaret Qualley Reveals Why Husband Jack Antonoff Lied to Her “First Crush” Adam Sandler
- Travis Kelce’s Grotesquerie Costars Weigh In on His Major Acting Debut
- Lions QB Jared Goff, despite 5 interceptions, dared to become cold-blooded
- Jury awards $2.78 million to nanny over hidden camera in bedroom
- Travis James Mullis executed in Texas for murder of his 3-month-old son Alijah: 'I'm ready'
- 50 Cent Producing Netflix Docuseries on Diddy's Sex Trafficking, Racketeering Charges
Recommendation
-
Ariana Grande Shares Dad's Emotional Reaction to Using His Last Name in Wicked Credits
-
It's a new world for college football players: You want the NIL cash? Take the criticism.
-
NFL rookie rankings: Jayden Daniels or Malik Nabers for No. 1 of early 2024 breakdown?
-
Anna Delvey's 'DWTS' run ends in elimination: She never stood a chance against critics.
-
Michigan soldier’s daughter finally took a long look at his 250 WWII letters
-
Southwest plans to cut flights in Atlanta while adding them elsewhere. Its unions are unhappy
-
Oklahoma Gov. Stitt returns to work after getting stent in blocked artery
-
Overseas voters are the latest target in Trump’s false narrative on election fraud