Emissions Gap Report 2020

China, Europe, India and USA, the top four greenhouse gas emitters, accounted for 55 per cent of global emissions in 2019. The top seven emitters – which include the Russian Federation, Japan, and emissions from the international transport sector – accounted for 65 per cent of all emissions.

As of November 1, 2020, global greenhouse gas emissions declined by a total of 7.1 per cent since the year began. The report says that this is due to the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions implemented globally, as well as changes in climate policies worldwide. Daily emissions dropped by a maximum of 17 per cent in April 2020.

Covid-19 containment measures resulted in a marked but temporary dip in global greenhouse gas emissions. Unless post-lockdown economic recovery measures are used as an opportunity for a low-carbon transition, the reduction in global warming will be no more than 0.01°C by 2050, and global warming will be more than 1.5°C by 2100.

According to the report, the government of India allocated funds for largescale landscape restoration and reforestation efforts through its Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority, to support plantation work, forest management and wildlife conservation.

In Brazil, the government changed the rules and procedures for land use regulation and law enforcement in the Amazon rainforest and other regions, to aid economic activity.

Global carbon dioxide emissions from shipping were lower in 2018 than they were in 2008. These levels are projected to increase by 4 to 50 per cent in the future decades, as compared to 2018. The report states that emissions from the aviation sector in 2050 are projected to be about three to four times what they were in 2015.

If left unchecked, the global shipping and aviation sectors are projected to emit increasing amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions in the coming decades.

The report notes that the top 10 per cent of income earners account for around 36 to 49 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, whereas the lowest 50 per cent of earners account for around 7 to 15 per cent. It is important to consider these consumption inequities and identify populations with very high and very low carbon footprints, the report says.

Focus and Factoids by Nivedita Gautam.