UNEP REPORT ON WARMING (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: None of the 20 major fossil fuel-producing countries, including India, have committed to cutting down on their dependence on coal, oil and gas production to align with the goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, according to a new United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report.

• Major producers are planning on producing around 110% and 69% more fossil fuels in 2030 than would be consistent with the goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C and 2°C, respectively.

Key Points

• The report looked at the production gap of 20 major producer countries responsible for 82% of production and 73% of consumption of the world’s fossil fuel supply.
• These include Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US).
• India has pledged to achieve Net-Zero emissions by 2070.
• According to the report, India also has plans for significant increases in coal production through 2030 and will prioritise self-reliance, viewing the coal industry as key to generating income and employment.

Global Warming

• About: It denotes the general alteration of Earth's climate, characterized by a substantial rise in the planet's temperature due to human activities occurring within a relatively brief timeframe.
• Temperature Rise: Even a minimal increase of one degree in temperature qualifies as an instance of global warming. An increment of 0.4 percent over a century is regarded as a matter of concern.

UNEP

• About: UNEP operates as a specialized agency within the United Nations system.
• Origin: UNEP was established following the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in 1972.
• Function: To facilitate and coordinate environmental efforts across the United Nations.
• UNEP bears overarching responsibility for addressing and managing environmental challenges within the United Nations' various agencies.