Biodiversity & Environment
Emissions Gap Report by UNEP
- 28 Nov 2019
- 3 min read
Why in News
Recently, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released ‘Emissions Gap Report’, according to which India is the fourth-largest emitter of Green House Gases (GHGs).
Key Points
- The world will fail to meet the 1.5°C temperature goal of the Paris Agreement unless global greenhouse gas emissions fall by 7.6 per cent each year.
- The top four emitters (China, USA, EU and India) contributed to over 55% of the total emissions over the last decade, excluding emissions from land-use change such as deforestation.
- The rankings would change if land-use change emissions were included, with Brazil likely to be the largest emitter.
- Sectors that are the largest emitters- Energy>Industry>Forestry>Transport>Agriculture>Building.
- India is among a small group of countries that are on their way to achieve their self-declared climate targets under the Paris Agreement. However, the emissions largely depend on the growth of the economy of the country.
Emissions Gap Report
- It is a flagship report from UNEP and it assesses the gap between anticipated emissions in 2030 and levels consistent with the 1.5°C and 2°C targets of the Paris Agreement.
- Every year, the report features ways to bridge the gap. This year, the report looked at the potential of the energy transition – particularly in the power, transport and buildings sectors – and efficiency in the use of materials such as iron steel and cement.
- It considers different scenarios, from no new climate policies since 2005 to full implementation of all national commitments under the Paris Agreement.
- It provides the latest assessment of scientific studies on current and estimated future Green House Gases (GHGs) emissions and compares these with the emission levels permissible for the world to progress on a least-cost pathway to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.
India's Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) to be achieved primarily, by 2030
- To reduce the emissions intensity of the GDP by about a third.
- A total of 40% of the installed capacity for electricity will be from non-fossil fuel sources.
- India also promised an additional carbon sink (a means to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere) of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by the year 2030.
