China, U.S. and India absent at U.N.’s Climate Ambition Summit
Context
Major economies whose actions have a substantial impact on future global emissions were conspicuously absent from the Climate Ambition Summit (CAS), which took place in New York as part of the United Nations General Assembly and ended on Thursday.
What is the UN’s Climate Ambition Summit?
- On September 20, 2023, the Climate Ambition Summit was convened at the New York headquarters of the UN. António Guterres, the secretary-general of the United Nations, arranged the conference to hasten the pace at which local governments, corporations, financial institutions, and civil society organizations take climate action. The summit was a crucial political turning point that showed the world’s commitment to moving toward a more just, renewable-energy-based, and climate-resilient global economy.
- A criticism of wealthy nations and the fossil fuel sector launched the conference. Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, two of the world’s most polluting leaders, did not attend the meeting.
- Global climate summits, often known as COPs, have been held at the United Nations for nearly three decades. “Conference of the Parties” is referred to as COP.
What were the objectives of the summit?
- Per the Paris Agreement, the conference sought to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
- Additionally, it attempted to provide climate justice to those who are most negatively impacted by climate change.
What are the criteria for getting invited to the summit?
To be selected for a speaking opportunity at the summit, countries had to meet several requirements, including:
- presenting updated pre-2030 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) agreed upon in the Glasgow Climate Pact.
- updating the net-zero goals.
- adopting energy transition strategies that forbid new coal, oil, and gas projects.
- describing phase-out plans for fossil fuels.
- establishing more challenging goals for renewable energy.
- giving contributions to the Green Climate Fund.
- putting together thorough plans for resilience and adaptability.
Who were the major economists that didn’t attend the summit?
- The three countries that produce the most greenhouse gases worldwide—China, the United States, and India—were conspicuously absent from the conference.
- A total of 42% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from these nations.
What are India’s Pledges committed by India?
- In its most recent climate pledge update from 2022, India promised to cut emissions intensity by 45% from 2005 levels by 2030. This was an increase of 10% from its 2015 promise.
- India also promised to increase its 40% commitment made as part of the Paris Agreement to 50% of its electricity needs being met by renewable, non-fossil fuel sources.
- Additionally, India committed to increasing its forest and tree cover by 2030 to provide a carbon sink equivalent to 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 by that time.
Conclusion
Asserting that “Climate action is dwarfed by the scale of the challenge,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that if significant changes are not made, the world will experience a dangerous and unstable future with a rise in temperature of 2.8 degrees Celsius.
