As the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015, it was a moment of hope. Leaders from nearly 200 nations came together to take a bold step towards tackling climate change, aiming to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius. The goal of limiting the rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius is seen by scientists as crucial to protect our planet from severe damage.
However, things have not gone as planned. With countries continuing to rely on oil, gas, and coal, temperatures have been climbing. The past decade was the hottest in recorded history. Just last year, our planet set a new high.
Now, at COP30 in Brazil, scientists emphasize that every tiny increase in temperature matters. For instance, rising heat contributes to roughly one death every minute due to extreme weather and air pollution, which claims about 2.5 million lives each year. The economic cost of climate change reached a staggering $304 billion last year alone.
Oceans are also suffering. We recently hit a climate tipping point, where warming seas are causing massive coral die-offs. Coral reefs are vital for biodiversity, supporting a quarter of marine life. Scientists warn that other tipping points, like the potential collapse of the Amazon rainforest, are lurking just ahead.
### Emissions on the Rise
The burning of fossil fuels continues to drive emissions up. Last year, greenhouse gas emissions hit record highs, rising 65% since 1990. Instead of declining, emissions surged to 53.2 gigatons of CO2 equivalent. Most of this came from just eight countries: China, the USA, the EU, India, Russia, Indonesia, Brazil, and Japan. Alarmingly, only the EU and Japan saw decreases in emissions compared to previous years.
The energy sector is the primary culprit for these emissions, powering our daily lives but also contributing heavily to climate change.
### Progress Since 2015
While overall climate action is lacking, there are bright spots. The growth of renewable energy has been remarkable. Investments in clean energy now exceed those in fossil fuels, with renewables tripling their share of global energy since 2015. In 2024, renewable energy generation saw its largest increase ever, now accounting for 40% of global electricity.
China is leading this charge, installing more solar capacity than the rest of the world combined last year. Meanwhile, electric vehicles are gaining ground, increasing from 1% of car sales to nearly 25% within a decade. We’re on track to hit the goal of 100 million electric vehicles on the road by 2030, earlier than expected.
However, challenges remain. Coal usage is at an all-time high, and global public financing for fossil fuels has surged to $1.6 trillion annually.
### The Road Ahead
Many experts believe we are still off course to meet the Paris Agreement goals. Without it, the world could warm by 4 degrees Celsius by the century’s end. Current national action plans, if fully implemented, might only limit temperature rise to around 2.3 to 2.5 degrees Celsius, leading to harsher extreme weather events.
As COP30 approaches, countries are racing to submit new commitments. A recent UN analysis suggests global greenhouse gas emissions could decrease by only 12% by 2035 compared to 2019 levels.
To achieve meaningful change, we need to dramatically ramp up our efforts. This means phasing out coal ten times faster, halting deforestation much more aggressively, doubling renewable energy growth, increasing climate finance by nearly $1 trillion each year, and enhancing public transport in the world’s most polluting cities.
The stakes are high. Our choices today will determine the planet’s future for generations to come.
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