UPSC Articles
The United in Science 2021 report
Part of: Prelims and GS II – International Relations and GS-III- Climate Change
Context The United in Science 2021 report is a multi-organization compilation of the latest climate science information and gives a unified assessment of the state of our Earth system.
Key findings
| Context | Organization | Key findings |
| Greenhouse Gas Concentrations in the Atmosphere | World Meteorological Organization (WMO) | Concentrations of the major greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2 O) continued to increase in 2020 and the first half of 2021.
Reducing atmospheric methane (CH4 ) in the short term could support the achievement of the Paris Agreement. |
| Global greenhouse gas emissions and budgets | Global Carbon Project | Recent emissions trends of N2O, the third most important greenhouse gas after CO2 and CH4 , exceed the most greenhouse gases |
| Emissions Gap | UN Environment Programme (UNEP) | Five years after the adoption of the Paris Agreement, the emissions gap is as large as ever: global emissions need to be lower than current unconditional Nationally Determined Contributions. |
| Global Climate in 2017-2021 and 2021-2025 | WMO | Annual global mean near-surface temperature is likely to be at least 1 °C warmer than pre-industrial levels |
| Highlights of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report | Human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land. Widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere have occurred. | |
| Sea- level Rise and Coastal Impacts | World Climate Research Programme – WMO, IOC, ISC | Even if emissions are reduced to limit warming to well below 2 °C, global mean sea level would likely rise by 0.3–0.6 m by 2100, and could rise 0.3–3.1 m by 2300. |
Suggestions
- For the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, known as COP26, to be a turning point, all countries must commit to net zero emissions by 2050, backed up by concrete long-term strategies, and enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions which collectively cut global emissions by 45% by 2030, compared to 2010 levels.
News source: TH
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