#carbon dioxide equivalent (gtco2e)

[myplan8earth]

1% for the Billions: MyPlan8's Role in Transforming India's Climate Future

In the relentless pursuit of combating climate change, every percentage point holds the promise of transformative change. Picture this: What if India's urban population, comprising over a third of the nation's inhabitants, collectively embraced a 1% reduction in emissions? The impact could be monumental, resonating far beyond the boundaries of bustling cityscapes.

Understanding the Numbers: A Fraction with Global Implications

India, amidst its rapidly growing urbanization and bustling cities, grapples with the monumental task of curbing carbon emissions. In 2022, the country's total carbon emissions soared to approximately 2.7 billion tonnes of CO2. The urban population, immersed in industries, transportation hubs, and burgeoning infrastructures, significantly contributes to the nation's carbon footprint.

Delving into the numbers, the World Bank reports India's total population at 1.366 billion in 2022, with an average per capita carbon footprint of approximately 1.49 t CO2. The urban population, constituting 35.87%, translates to around 490 million individuals. Given that the urban population's carbon footprint is 7 times the average, the total carbon emissions reach a staggering 729.1 million tonnes of CO2. A modest 1% reduction in these emissions could prevent about 7.29 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions.

Putting it into Perspective: MyPlan8's Impact on Global Transportation Emissions

The prevention of 7.29 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions through a 1% reduction in urban population emissions is no small feat. In fact, it's equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions from the entire global transportation sector, which released 7.29 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO2e) in 2020, according to Statista.

Consider the narrative: the bustling streets of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and other urban hubs contributing to the prevention of emissions equivalent to the vast network of cars, trucks, planes, and ships worldwide. This is where local actions manifest into global implications.

A Ripple Effect: MyPlan8 and the Journey Towards Sustainable Cities

Beyond the immediate environmental impact, this 1% reduction is seamlessly aligned with India's ambitious climate goals. India envisions slashing 1 billion tonnes (1 Gt) of carbon emissions by 2030, a monumental stride toward sustainability. MyPlan8, a pioneering platform in environmental engagement, plays a pivotal role in driving this change.

MyPlan8 empowers individuals and communities to take tangible actions for a sustainable future. By providing personalized plans for reducing carbon footprints, it catalyzes the collective effort needed to achieve national climate targets. The platform facilitates informed choices, nudging users towards eco-friendly practices and contributing to a significant reduction in emissions.

Moreover, this reduction contributes to India's commitment to a 33-35% decrease in the "emissions intensity" of its economy by 2030, compared to 2005 levels. MyPlan8 becomes the conduit through which urban populations engage in the mission, not just of mitigating emissions, but of charting a course for sustainable growth and global leadership in combating climate change.

Conclusion: MyPlan8, The Catalyst for Change

The impact of a 1% reduction in emissions from India's urban population extends beyond statistics; it's a narrative of collective action. MyPlan8, through its innovative and personalized approach, transforms numbers into stories of real change. It's about cities leading the charge in India's climate battle, proving that even modest steps, when fueled by a dedicated platform like MyPlan8, can pave the way for transformative change.

This narrative transcends numbers; it's about the power of individuals, the vibrancy of India's urban landscape, and the potential for positive change when communities unite for a sustainable future. Every percentage point is a promise, and MyPlan8 stands as a testament to the impactful journey towards a greener, more sustainable India.

[kp777]

By Olivia Rosane

Common Dreams

Nov. 20, 2023

Keeping the 1.5°C temperature goal alive "requires tearing out the poisoned root of the climate crisis: fossil fuels," U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said.

Nations' current unconditional climate action plans under the Paris agreement would put the world on track for 2.9°C of warming by 2100, the United Nations Environment Program warned Monday.

The UNEP's 2023 Emissions Gap Report, released ahead of next week's U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP28) in the United Arab Emirates, finds that policymakers must slash greenhouse gas emissions by 28% by 2030 to limit warming to 2°C above preindustrial levels and 42% to halt warming at 1.5°C.

"The report shows that the emissions gap is more like an emissions canyon," U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement. "A canyon littered with broken promises, broken lives, and broken records. All of this is a failure of leadership, a betrayal of the vulnerable, and a massive missed opportunity."

The annual Emissions Gap Report calculates the difference between climate-warming emissions under current policies and what needs to be achieved to limit global heating to "well below" 2°C and ideally 1.5°C. This year's report highlighted 2023's string of broken temperature records and extreme weather events: Scientists predict it's on track to be the hottest year in 125,000 years.

At the same time, global greenhouse gas emissions rose by 1.2% between 2021 and 2022, hitting a record 57.4 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO2e) last year.

"Humanity is breaking all the wrong records when it comes to climate change," UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said in the report foreword.

"The 2023 edition of the Emissions Gap Report tells us that the world must change track, or we will be saying the same thing next year—and the year after, and the year after, like a broken record," Andersen added.

Even the report's full title expressed a sense of exasperation: Emissions Gap Report 2023: Broken Record—Temperatures hit new highs, yet world fails to cut emissions (again).

The report looked at both existing and promised policies, including countries' Paris action pledges, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs). It did find that national actions since the Paris agreement was negotiated in 2015 have made a difference. At the time, greenhouse gas emissions were projected to rise by 16% by 2030 and now they are on track to rise by 3% by the end of the decade.

But that progress is not nearly enough to avoid ever more extreme climate impacts. Currently implemented policies put the world on track for 3°C of warming by 2100, unconditional NDCs for 2.9°C, conditional NDCs for 2.5°C, and conditional NDCs combined with net-zero pledges give temperatures a 66% chance of topping out at 2°C. Under the last, most optimistic scenario, the world is left with a 14% chance of limiting warming to 1.5°C. However, net-zero pledges are not currently seen as reliable, since no Group of 20 country is on pace to reduce its emissions in line with this goal.

The report found that nations must cut their emissions by 14 GtCO2e by 2030 to reach 2°C and 22 GtCO2e to reach 1.5°C. The way this can be done is by phasing out fossil fuels as soon as possible.

"The only way to curtail this spiraling crisis is through wholesale changes to the global energy system that will sharply drive down all heat-trapping emissions."

"We know it is still possible to make the 1.5°C limit a reality. And we know how to get there—we have roadmaps from the International Energy Agency and the IPCC [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change]," Guterres said. "It requires tearing out the poisoned root of the climate crisis: fossil fuels. And it demands a just, equitable renewables transition."

The report comes as nations prepare to gather on November 30 for COP28, which will include the first global stocktake of their progress toward meeting the goals of the Paris agreement. This will lead to a new round of NDCs through 2035.

"Ambition in these NDCs must bring greenhouse gas emissions in 2035 to levels consistent with the 2°C and 1.5°C pathways. Stronger implementation in this decade will help to make this possible," Andersen said in the foreword.

"The world needs to lift the needle out of the groove of insufficient ambition and action, and start setting new records on cutting emissions, green and just transitions, and climate finance—starting now," Andersen added.

In response to the report, Rachel Cleetus, the policy director and a lead economist in the Climate and Energy Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, also called for ambition at the upcoming climate talks.

"The only way to curtail this spiraling crisis is through wholesale changes to the global energy system that will sharply drive down all heat-trapping emissions," Cleetus said. "At COP28, nations must heed these scientific truths by agreeing to a fast and fair phaseout of fossil fuels, ramping up renewable energy and energy efficiency, and significantly expanding climate finance commitments from wealthier countries for an equitable clean energy transition.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Brazil keeps shifting the goalposts on its climate targets

At the turn of the month, the Brazilian government submitted an updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement. The document is a dud, as The Brazilian Report exclusively revealed on February 19. At first glance, it appears that Brazil is making progress toward its climate goal of net-zero, with a 43-to-50-percent cut in emissions (relative to a 2005 baseline). However, that baseline is being continually shifted by the government.

Back in 2015, Brazil pledged to cut emissions down to 1.2 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO2e) by 2030 – that is, 43 percent below 2005 levels. In December 2020, Brazil updated its emissions accounts, changing the 2005 baseline from 2.1 to 2.8 GtCO2e. The tweak “allowed” Brazil to emit 400 million extra tons of carbon dioxide and still remain within its target range.

Continue reading.

[manolo-ssa]

[share author='Adam Tooze' profile='https://twitter.com/adam_tooze' avatar='https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/630662078731149314/3jeG3FAH.png' posted='2019-10-23 13:30:00' link='https://twitter.com/adam_tooze/status/1186998206527242240']The top 20 companies have contributed to 35% of all energy-related carbon dioxide and methane worldwide, totalling 480bn tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO2e) since 1965. 12 are SOE. theguardian.com/environment/20…

[rjzimmerman]

Here’s the link to the report disclosing the top 100. The top 10 are shown below in the extract.

Excerpt:

New research claims that just 100 fossil fuel producers are to blame for 71 percent of industrial greenhouse gases since 1988, the year human-induced climate change was officially recognized through the establishment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Despite the landmark establishment, the oil, coal and gas industry has expanded significantly and has become even more carbon-intensive since 1988, according the 2017 Carbon Majors report from the environmental not-for-profit CDP.

Notably, in the 28 years between 1988 to 2015, just 25 fossil fuel producers are linked to 51 percent of global industrial emissions.

The highest-emitting companies since 1988 include state-owned entities such as the Chinese coal industry, Saudi Aramco, Russia's Gazprom, National Iranian Oil, Coal India and Mexico's Pemex. Public investor-owned companies such as ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, Chevron, Peabody, Total and BHP Billiton are also major contributors.

The analysis found that fossil fuel producers contributed 833 gigatonnes of equivalent carbon dioxide (GtCO2e) in the last 28 years, compared to 820 GtCO2e in the 237 years between the birth of the Industrial Revolution in 1751 and 1988, when the IPCC was established.

Here are the top 10 greenhouse gas emitters since 1988 followed by the percentage of global industrial greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Carbon Majors report: 

China (Coal), 14.3%

Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Aramco), 4.5%

Gazprom OAO, 3.9%

National Iranian Oil Co, 2.3%

ExxonMobil Corp, 2.0%

Coal India, 1.9%

Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex), 1.9%

Russia (Coal), 1.9%

Royal Dutch Shell PLC, 1.7%1

China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), 1.6%

[global-news-station]

PARIS: Humanity is falling further behind in the race against climate change, with the gap between greenhouse gas emissions and levels needed to achieve the Paris climate treaty temperature goals continuing to widen, the UN said on Tuesday.

With only a single degree Celsius of warming so far, the world has seen a crescendo of deadly wildfires, heatwaves and hurricanes.

On current trends, temperatures are on track to rise roughly 4C by the century’s end, a scenario that would tear at the fabric of civilisation, scientists say.

To cap global warming at two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), national carbon-cutting pledges annexed to the 2015 Paris Agreement must collectively triple by 2030, according to the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Emissions Gap report.

To hold the rise in Earth’s temperature to 1.5C above the preindustrial benchmark, such efforts would have to increase fivefold.

“The emissions gap is much bigger than last year,” UNEP’s Philip Drost, one of several coordinators for the annual report’s ninth edition, told AFP.

One obvious reason was a spike last year in the quantity of carbon dioxide, methane and other planet-warming gases escaping into the atmosphere.

This trend is set to continue in 2018, which saw a jump in CO2 emissions from the energy sector, according to the International Energy Agency, as well as an increase in the atmospheric concentration of CO2.

But the gap between where we are and where we need to be also grew on paper: new calculations by the UN’s top science panel sharply reduce the real-world potential for drawing CO2 out of the air, whether by planting more trees or capturing and storing CO2 emitted by power plants.

– ‘Chasing the bus’ –

More broadly, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report released last month concluded that 2C of warming — once seen as a safety guardrail — would in fact usher in a maelstrom of deadly extreme weather.

Taken together, rising emissions and revised projections on CO2 removal have widened the emissions gap by 15 percent for a 2C world, and by nearly 70 percent for the 1.5C target, according to the new report.

The news comes despite breakneck growth in solar and wind power, gains in energy efficiency, and climate action by business and local governments, said Andrew Steer, president and CEO of the Washington DC-based World Resources Institute.

“We are chasing a bus” — climate change — “and we are going faster and faster, setting new world records,” he said by phone.

“But the bus is accelerating even faster, and the gap is increasing.”

Momentum is most lacking at the national level, the report suggested.

“Governments really need to look at their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and increase their ambition,” said Drost.

Boosting carbon-cutting efforts is high on the agenda at UN climate talks starting next week in Katowice, though host country Poland has let it be known that its top priority is finalising the “rulebook” for the Paris Agreement, which enters into force in 2020.

– Carbon budget –

But upping ambition will be a tall order given that most major economies are not even on track to achieve their current pledges.

The United States, the world’s second biggest carbon emitter, will miss its target badly, as will Australia, Canada, South Korea, Mexico and Turkey.

The European Union, Japan, Brazil and South Africa will also fall short. Top emitters China and Russia are both on track, but mostly because their goals were so modest to begin with.

The Emissions Gap report’s projections are based on estimates of how much carbon humanity can emit into the atmosphere — known as the “carbon budget” — without breaching the 2C or 1.5C ceiling.

To cap global warming at 2C, annual emissions in 2030 will need to stay under 40 billion tonnes of CO2 or its equivalent (GtCO2e).

In 2017, total greenhouse gas emissions hit 53.5 GtCO2e.

If the target is 1.5C, the gap becomes a chasm: by 2030, carbon emissions must be lowered to no more than 24 billion tonnes per year, nearly one-and-a-half-times lower than they would be even if Paris promises are kept.

Written and reviewed by 100 climate scientists and experts, the annual, 100-page analysis tracks progress towards achieving the Paris treaty goals.

Under Donald Trump, the United States has abandoned its greenhouse gas goals and vowed to quit the Paris Agreement.

The post Global warming outpaces efforts to slow it: UN appeared first on ARYNEWS.

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[optimisticprincepainter]

Nearly 200 countries need to take urgent action to meet the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global warming, UN Environment said.  The eighth edition of UN Environment’s Emissions Gap report released ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP23) in Bonn, found that national pledges only brought a third of the reduction in emissions required by 2030 to meet climate targets. The private sector and sub-national action not increasing at a rate that would help close this worrying gap. Fossil fuels and cement production still account for about 70 percent of greenhouses gases. “One year after the Paris Agreement entered into force, we still find ourselves in a situation where we are not doing nearly enough to save hundreds of millions of people from a miserable future,” an official statement quoting the head of UN Environment Erik Solheim said. “This is unacceptable. If we invest in the right technologies, ensuring that the private sector is involved, we can still meet the promise we made to our children to protect their future. But we have to get on the case now.” The 2015 Paris Agreement looks to limit global warming to under two degrees Celsius, with a more ambitious goal of 1.5 degrees also on the table. Meeting these targets would reduce the likelihood of severe climate impact that could damage human health, livelihoods, and economies across the globe. As things stand, even full implementation of current unconditional and conditional Nationally Determined Contributions makes a temperature increase of at least three degrees Celsius by 2100 very likely, meaning that the governments need to deliver much stronger pledges when they are revised in 2020. Should the US follow through with its stated intention to leave the Paris Agreement in 2020, the picture could become even bleaker. However, the Emissions Gap report does lay out practical ways to slash emissions through rapidly expanding mitigation action based on existing options in the agriculture, buildings, energy, forestry, industry and transport sectors. Strong action on other climate forcers such as hydrofluorocarbons, through the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, and other short-lived climate pollutants such as black carbon could also make a real contribution. The report finds that current Paris pledges make 2030 emissions likely to reach 11 to 13.5 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO2e) above the level needed to stay on the least-cost path to meeting the two degrees Celsius target. One gigatonne is roughly equivalent to one year of transport emissions in the European Union, including aviation. The emissions gap in the case of the 1.5 degrees Celsius target is 16 to 19 GtCO2e, higher than previous estimates as new studies have become available. “The Paris Agreement boosted climate action, but the momentum is clearly faltering,” Costa Rica’s Minister of Environment and Energy and President of the 2017 UN Environment Assembly Edgar E. Gutierrez-Espeleta said. “We face a stark choice: up our ambition, or suffer the consequences,” he added. IANS : 31st. Oct,17

UN ENVIRONMENT SAID COUNTRIES NEED TO TAKE ACTION TO LIMIT GLOBAL WARMING : Nearly 200 countries need to take urgent action to meet the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global warming, UN Environment said.