The G20 countries are responsible for around 80% of greenhouse gas emissions, making them a significant contributor to climate change. Despite the threat of global warming to food security, extreme weather events, and other disastrous consequences, the G20 and the European Union are unlikely to achieve their goal of limiting global warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial times. According to the recently released Brown to Green Report by Climate Transparency, CO2 emissions increased by 1.8% last year, mainly due to the G20 countries.
If the G20 countries maintain their current climate targets, limiting global warming to a maximum of 1.5 degrees Celsius is not possible. The temperature of the Earth has already increased by one degree compared to pre-industrial times, and a maximum temperature increase of 1.5 degrees is considered acceptable by scientists. However, if the G20 countries set and achieve more ambitious targets next year, it may still be possible to prevent the tipping points and potentially avert climate change.
To achieve the UN Climate Panel’s 1.5-degree report, the G20 countries must reduce their CO2 emissions by 45% compared to 2010 by 2030. By 2070, the world population must live completely carbon-neutral, meaning that all new CO2 emissions must be neutralized by corresponding countermeasures. This can only be achieved through a change in lifestyle, including a significant reduction in meat consumption and the use of fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas.
The consequences of not achieving these targets would be dramatic, particularly for glaciers, polar ice, and marine food chains, which are already threatened by climate change. The G20 countries must take immediate action to reduce their carbon footprint and prevent further damage to the planet.
