A new analysis, seen by the BBC, suggests the goals of the UN Paris climate agreement are getting “within reach.” The Climate Action Tracker group looked at new climate promises from China and other nations, along with the carbon plans of US President-elect Joe Biden. These commitments would mean the rise in world temperatures could be held to 2.1C by the end of this century. Previous estimates indicated up to 3C of heating, with disastrous impacts. But the experts are worried the long-term optimism is not matched by short-term plans to cut CO2. The biggest problem as they see it, is that the near-term plans to cut carbon by 2030 are just not up to the job.
By Matt McGrath. BBC News. December 1, 2020.
