Wealthy nations’ assertions that their 2035 emissions reduction targets align with limiting global warming to 1.5°C have been scrutinized by climate experts, who argue that these claims disregard historical responsibility and fairness.
Recent Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) plans submitted to the United Nations by countries such as the UK, Canada, and Switzerland claim that if every nation followed their emissions reduction pace, the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping global temperatures below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels would be met.
However, scientists, climate campaigners, and even Canada’s official climate advisers argue that this perspective neglects that wealthy nations have historically contributed disproportionately to climate change. As a result, these countries should reduce emissions faster than the global average rather than setting targets equivalent to developing nations.
Climate scientist Robin Lamboll from Imperial College London criticized the framing of these targets, stating that the Paris Agreement explicitly requires wealthier nations to decarbonize much faster than the rest of the world.
He further noted that if serious climate action had begun in 2015, achieving global net-zero emissions by 2050 would have likely kept warming below 1.5°C. However, since emissions have continued rising, staying within this limit is becoming increasingly difficult with each passing year.
As debates over climate justice and equitable emissions reduction continue, experts urge high-emitting nations to acknowledge their historical footprint and accelerate their transition toward net zero, ensuring a fairer approach to tackling the climate crisis. Read More
News Credit: Climate Home News
Picture Credit: Steve Morgan/Greenpeace