The world is rushing headlong into a climate catastrophe.
Temperatures are reaching scorching new highs, droughts are imperilling millions of lives, and rising seas are threatening the very existence of nations.
Research shows that to ward off a deeper crisis the world needs to make informed decisions about how to lower planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to an already changing climate.
That is why the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) produces two regular climate-related assessments, the Adaptation Gap Report and the Emissions Gap Report, while partnering with other groups on a third, the Production Gap Report.
They analyze the state of the climate and provide policymakers with a roadmap for action, often being cited by heads of state and negotiators at the annual UN Climate Change Conference.
“In order to tackle the climate crisis, we need policies that are rooted in science,” said Maarten Kappelle, the head of UNEP’s Thematic Assessments Unit. “That is the only way humanity is going to be able to save itself from the storm that is coming.”
This week sees the launch of the Adaptation Gap Report. It will be followed by the Production Gap Report on 8 November and the Emissions Gap Report on 20 November – all released in the run up to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28).
Here is a closer look at the reports and why they are important.
What do the reports cover?
The Adaptation Gap Report, published every year, examines how well the world is preparing for climate change. It looks at the ways countries are planning, financing, and implementing the projects they will need to endure droughts, floods, rising seas, and other climate-related challenges. It also explores options for ramping up these climate adaptation efforts.
First published in 2014, the goal of the report is to inform policymakers and drive national and international adaptation efforts.
The annual Emissions Gap Report charts the difference between national pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the reductions required to keep the global temperature rise well below 2°C by the end of this century, in line with the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement.
The report – first published in 2010 – also features solutions for bridging this emissions gap. It has gained a reputation as an authoritative source of timely, policy-relevant information that has informed the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Production Gap Report tracks the discrepancy between planned fossil fuel production and global production levels consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C or 2°C. First published in 2019, the report is published by the Stockholm Environment Institute, UNEP and other organizations.
Why are these reports important?
A growing body of evidence shows that climate change is accelerating, leaving almost no corner of the world untouched. This crisis is being driven largely by the burning of fossil fuels, which act like a blanket, trapping the sun’s heat, raising global temperatures, and altering sensitive climatic patterns. Countries need to act fast to ensure the planet remains liveable for all, finds the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a UN-convened body of climate scientists from around the world.
How do the ‘Gap’ reports help?
All three reports provide a clear picture of where the world is when it comes to both mitigating and adapting to climate change. However, they do not just tell humanity where we are; they chart where the world needs to go, and crucially, how to get there.
What are some of the key findings from previous reports?
The 2022 edition of the Emissions Gap Report found that current government policies put the world on the path to warm 2.8°C by century’s end. To meet the most ambitious targets of the Paris Agreement, which calls for limiting warming to 1.5°C, the world needs to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent by 2030, it said.
The 2022 Adaptation Gap Report found humanity will need up to US$340 billion annually to contend with climate change by 2030 and up to US$565 billion by 2050. Many developing countries, it said, are facing a major shortfall in adaptation financing.
Finally, the last edition of the Production Gap report in 2021 found the world’s governments plan to produce more than twice the amount of fossil fuels in 2030 than would be consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C.
What role will these reports play at this year’s UN Climate Change Conference (COP28)?
The three reports provide a scientific foundation for negotiating parties and stakeholders working towards meeting the Paris Agreement goals. The reports will also provide consolidated input to the Global Stocktake, which is the formal process to measure how the global community is delivering the Paris Agreement.
The 28th session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) will be held from 30 November to 12 December, 2023 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. It aims to drive action on climate change, reducing emissions and halting global warming. This year, COP28 will discuss the results from the first-ever Global Stocktake, assessing progress toward achieving the ambition of the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise to below 1.5°C. You can follow live COP28 updates on UNEP’s climate action feed.
