UNEP’s 2024 Emissions Gap Report: Bridging the Divide

Climate crunch time is here. The 2024 Emissions Gap Report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) outlines the urgent action needed to bridge the growing gap between global climate commitments and reality.

This report underscores the widening emissions gap and the critical need for transformative global action. With global greenhouse gas emissions reaching a record high of 57.1 gigatons CO₂e in 2023, the pathway to limiting warming to 1.5°C becomes increasingly narrow.

Key Findings

• Record High Emissions: 2023 saw global emissions rise to 57.1 GtCO₂e, a 1.3% increase from 2022, emphasizing the urgent need for more robust policies.
• The Ambition Gap: Current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) fall far short, requiring a 42% reduction in emissions by 2030 to align with the 1.5°C target.
• Sectoral Transformations: Renewable energy, particularly solar and wind, has the potential to deliver 27% of necessary reductions by 2030. Forest management and other mitigation strategies must complement these efforts.
• Time-Sensitive Action: Every fraction of a degree avoided counts. Delaying action increases reliance on costly carbon removal technologies.

What needs to happen: Immediate, scaled-up investment in renewable energy, efficiency improvements, and global cooperation are critical to ensuring a livable future.

Dive deeper into the findings and implications of the 2024 Emissions Gap Report by downloading the full report here: Download the Report (PDF).

For more information, visit the official UNEP page: UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2024.