The greenhouse gas emissions levels are now around 14 per cent above where they need to be in 2020 shows this UNEP report developed by 55 scientists from 22 countries. Warns that if nations do not act promptly, the emissions are likely to be at 58 gigatonnes in eight years' time.

Action on climate change needs to be scaled-up and accelerated without delay if the world is to have a running chance of keeping a global average temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius this century. The Emissions Gap Report, coordinated by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the European Climate Foundation, and released days before the convening of the Climate Change Conference of the Parties in Doha, shows that greenhouse gas emissions levels are now around 14 per cent above where they need to be in 2020. The Emissions Gap Report 2012 points out that even if the most ambitious level of pledges and commitments were implemented by all countries-and under the strictest set of rules-there will now be a gap of 8 Gt of CO2 equivalent by 2020.

See Also

Bulletin: The state of greenhouse gases.

Report: World energy outlook 2012.

Report: Why a 4°C warmer world must be avoided.

Feature: US attempts to shift focus of climate negotiations.

Report: Bridging the emissions gap.

Report: Are the Copenhagen Accord pledges sufficient...

Report: Trends in global CO2 emissions 2012.

Report: Analysing the emission gap.