Meat consumption should be reduced to the equivalent of about two hamburgers a week in the developed world, and public transport should expand about six times faster than its current pace, if the world is to avoid the worst ravages of the climate crisis, it suggests. an investigation.
Deforestation rates it also needs to be reduced quickly, and the coal phase-out needs to happen about six times faster than is currently being managed. heavy industries like cement and steel are not moving fast enough to reduce their emissions, and the rapid growth of renewable energy and electric vehicle adoption must be sustained.
the Climate Action Status Report 2022 examined global progress on 40 indicators that would be key to halving global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, in line with the goal of limiting temperature increases to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The researchers found a bleak picture, with just over half of the indicators far off track and five heading in the wrong direction.
The indicators that caused the most concern were the use of gas, which is increasing rapidly at a time when it should be reduced in favor of renewable energies; steelmaking, where emission reduction technology is not being adopted fast enough; trips made in passenger cars; the rate of loss of mangrove forests; and emissions from agriculture.
Ani Dasgupta, executive director of the World Resources Institute, one of the organizations responsible for the report, noted the extreme weather seen around the world this year.
“The world has seen the devastation wrought by just 1.1°C of warming. Every fraction of a degree matters in the fight to protect people and the planet. We are seeing important progress in the fight against climate change but we are not yet winning in any sector,” she said.
Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics, which also helped produce the report, warned of the growing use of gas for electricity generation around the world.
“What is particularly worrying is the rise in fossil gas power generation despite the availability of lower-cost, healthier alternatives,” he said. “The ongoing crisis resulting from shocks such as the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shown very clearly how continued reliance on fossil fuels is not only bad for the climate but also comes with serious financial and security risks.”
The report, produced by the Systems Change Lab, a coalition of think tanks and charitable foundations, identified some bright spots. Solar power generation increased by almost half between 2019 and 2021, while electric vehicles accounted for almost one in 10 passenger cars sold in 2021, double the number from the previous year.
The analysis concluded that much more investment was required to shift the global economy to a low-carbon basis: about $460 billion a year over the next decade in additional funding would be needed, and governments must also stop treating favorably fossil fuels.
The authors asked financial institutions will stop supporting fossil fuel production and carbon-intensive industries. The findings of the report will be presented to governments at the UN Climate Summit Cop27which begins in Egypt next month.