COP26 credibility gap as over 2 degrees warming predicted
Scottish Greens have warned COP26 faces a credibility gap, after new analysis by Climate Action Tracker predicts commitments made during the summit will still lead to a catastrophic level of global warming.
The Climate Action Tracker website is an independent scientific analysis that tracks government climate action and measures it against the globally agreed Paris Agreement aim of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees.
New analysis shows pledges made so far including those in Glasgow over the last week will still lead to at least 2.4 degrees rise by 2100.
Commenting, Scottish Greens climate spokesperson Mark Ruskell said: “Unlike other predictions, this analysis shows the real gap between ambitious targets and the action required to meet them. 2.4 degrees of hearing would mean a much higher instance of fires, flooding and droughts with a catastrophic loss of species including pollinators.
“CAT are absolutely clear that inaction on fossil fuels is the primary cause for concern, which is why the UK Government’s leadership of these talks is shameful.
“Ambitious targets are meaningless when you are going to be burning even more fossil fuels and encouraging more and more people to drive and fly. That’s why CAT describe these targets as ‘false hope to the reality’ of inaction.
“It’s clear we cannot rely on the most polluting industries to lead us to a low carbon future, which is why this report warns against listening to the gas industry for solutions. It’s time the UK Government woke up to its responsibility and drove real action in the final days of the talks, before it’s too late.”