Tough talking as the Earth heats up

Q

AThis is the annual “conference of parties”, or “COP” under the UN’S climate convention, and 196 countries, plus the EU acting as a bloc, are attending to discuss action on climate change.

QAYes, the Paris Agreement commits countries to taking action to keep temperature rises “well below” 2C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to keep them to 1.5C.

Q AThere is a dramatic gap between the action and targets countries have set out to curb emissions and what is needed to avoid the worst impacts of global warming.

A report last week by the UN’S Environment Programme warned that even if countries deliver on their pledges so far, temperatures are expected to rise by 3.2C

AWhat are the talks?

Don’t we already have an agreement on action?

So why do we need more talks on tackling climate change?

Q

AWhat is the UK doing?

The UK has brought in a legally-binding target to cut greenhouse gas emissions to “net zero” by 2050.