In short, there are efforts to address the climate crisis, but overall, the Paris Agreement is lacking across all areas and not where it should be.
The Paris Agreement has inspired near-universal climate action and playing a central role in catalyzing cooperative action so the world can address the climate crisis. The world has avoided a potential 4°C increase to a range of 2.1-2.8°C if all current climate action plans are implemented. There is a possibility to get to a temperature increase that is below 2°C as 87% of the global economy is now covered by targets associated with achieving climate neutrality.
But, there is a well-known huge mitigation gap, as the current trajectory of global emissions is not consistent with limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5°C, including when all climate action plans are considered. Adaptation to climate change is also not at the levels needed, and the world is experiencing increased losses from extreme climate events. The growing needs for climate action do not match current support available and mobilised and the gap is widening.
There is hope. The global stocktake outcome outlines key actions and commitments, to be undertaken urgently, consistently and in a rapid manner to put the world back on track. The ambitious package to raise ambition and accelerate action includes global emission reduction targets, energy transition by tripling renewable energy and doubling energy efficiency by 2030, moving away from fossil fuels and promoting practices such as low-emission technologies, sustainable behaviors and nature-based actions. Adaptation efforts should be scaled up significantly, be well-coordinated and cover all relevant sectors such as agriculture, health, social protection, water and ecosystems, plans, policies and budgets.
More and accessible financial support, capacity building and technology is required to actualise the ambitious commitments.