World must take to ‘green pandemic recovery’

No time to spare! A growing number of countries committing to net-zero emissions goals by mid-century is a “significant and encouraging development. At  the time of report completion, 126 countries covering 51 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions had adopted, announced or were considering net-zero goals, a new UN report finds.

This UN Environment Programme (UNEP) ’s annual report – Emissions Gap Report 2020 – points to hope in growing commitments to net-zero emissions and a green pandemic recovery. It states that to remain feasible and credible, countries’ commitments must be urgently translated into strong near-term policies and action and reflected in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.  Moreover, governments across the world should combine ‘green pandemic recovery’ with changes to include new net-zero commitment and invest in climate action as part of pandemic.

"The report assesses the gap between estimated future global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions if countries implement their climate mitigation pledges and the global emission levels from least-cost pathways that are aligned with achieving the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement."

With a strong emphasis on ‘green pandemic recovery’, the report  finds that nature-oriented action could cut up to 25 per cent off predicted 2030 greenhouse gas emissions and bring the world closer to meeting the 2°C goal of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. UNEP’s executive director Inger Andersen said, “Emissions Gap report shows that a green pandemic recovery can take a huge slice out of greenhouse gas emissions and help slow climate change. I urge governments to back in the next stage of COVID-19 fiscal interventions and raise significantly their climate ambitions in 2021.”

126 countries covering 51% of global GHG emissions have net-zero goals that are formally adopted, announced or under consideration. If the US adopts a net-zero GHG target by 2050, the share would increase to 63% 

– Emissions Gap Report 2020

COVID-19’s ‘new normal’ green fiscal recovery actions could consist of  “direct support for zero-emissions technologies and infrastructure, reducing fossil fuel subsidies, no new coal plants, and promoting nature-based solutions – including large-scale landscape restoration and reforestation”. Based on these actions, the report finds, action on a green fiscal recovery has been limited. “There a significant opportunity for countries to implement green policies and programmes,” says the report.

- S.R.Ranjan 

(Singh Rakesh Ranjan)

Freelance Journalist

(Representational images: source)