The IPCC (UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report
29.04.2014
The latest report by the United Nations scientific panel on climate change shows that collective and significant global action is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to keep global warming below 2°C. The report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says that the longer we wait, the more expensive and technologically challenging meeting this goal will be.
In terms of current trends, the report finds that:
- Despite a growing number of climate change mitigation policies, man-made greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) grew more rapidly from 2000 to 2010 than in each of the previous three decades.
- The global economic crisis in 2007/2008 only temporarily reduced carbon emissions.
- Total emissions from 2000 to 2010 were the highest in human history. In 2010, total GHG emissions were around 49 gigatones of CO2-equivalent (around 7 tones of CO2-equivalent for every person on the planet).
- About half of the total carbon dioxide emissions emitted between 1750 and 2010 occurred over the last 40 years.
To access the report, please click here.
Source: The European Commission, DG Clima.