World far short of climate goals during 'decade of action': report

Climate action promised by countries would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nine per cent in this decade, far short of the global goal of cutting emissions by nearly half by 2030, a new analysis shows.

Failing to meet the 2030 emissions target risks pushing the world toward irreversible climate impacts, even if a second goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 is met, scientists say.

For the analysis, Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy tallied countries' climate plans – known as Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs. The result "highlights the gap in the ambition of NDCs and the trajectory necessary to meet net-zero emissions by 2050," the report says.

The report says territories such as the United States and European Union pledging net-zero emissions by 2050 are on track to reduce emissions from 2015 levels by only 27% by 2030. Countries like China and India pledging to reach net-zero after 2050 would actually see emissions rise by 10% through this decade.

The net reduction of 9% reflects only what nations aim to deliver, without considering whether those aims are supported by policy or law. In fact, the report finds that few countries are turning their pledges into clear action. Of the 65% of around 100 countries with net-zero or carbon neutrality targets before 2050, only 14 have signed net-zero targets into law.