UN report says world must cut coal, oil and gas production
The world needs to cut half its production of fossil fuels in the coming decade to maintain a chance of keeping up with global targets, according to a new UN report.
A UN Environment Program report found that governments have made ambitious pledges but continue to encourage the "production gap," in which they increase production while setting bold climate goals.
In one case, the report found the U.S., which produces around 11% of greenhouse gases, exports significant amounts of its oil, gas and coal production, which means the emissions do not show up in the U.S. inventory despite adding to the global total. The report found U.S. production of oil and gas increasing to 17% and 12%, respectively, by 2030 compared to 2019 levels.
Officials have therefore urged governments to cut their production and stop plans to increase production over the rest of the decade. "There is still time to limit long term warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, but this window of opportunity is rapidly closing," said the agency's executive director, Inger Andersen, adding that governments should commit to closing the gap at the Glasgow climate summit.
The goal of limiting the global temperature rise to below 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) was set by the 2015 Paris climate accord.
A less ambitious goal of capping global warming to 2 degrees by the end of the century would be difficult with the increasing production gap. Costa Rica and Denmark plan to launch a new group at the Oct. 31 climate summit in Glasgow.
The Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance would promote the effort to significantly cut production to meet the goals. "We must cut with both hands of the scissors, addressing demand and supply of fossil fuels simultaneously," Costa Rica's Environment and Energy Minister Andrea Meza said. The study was carried out by 40 researchers who examined 15 major fossil fuelproducing countries.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia could quickly boost natural gas supplies to the European
Union once German regulators allow a new pipeline under the Baltic Sea to start operation.
Speaking on a wide range of international and domestic policy issues during a conference of foreign policy experts, Putin argued that Russia already has increased gas supplies to Europe this year and could send more once the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is functioning.
He said one of the two links of the new pipeline already has been filled with gas as part of preparations for its launch, adding that supplies could start "a day after" regulators give their approval. Putin said the pipeline's second link will be filled with gas by the end of the year, to a total capacity of 55 billion cubic meters.
Earlier Thursday, European Union leaders met to discuss ways to ease the pain of soaring energy bills for consumers.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday that with the 27-nation bloc importing 90% of its gas much of it from strategic rival Russia - "this makes us vulnerable."