Oxfam - Climate national action plans “appalling and irresponsible”

In reaction to the UNFCCC NDC Synthesis report launched today, Oxfam Global Climate Policy Lead, Nafkote Dabi, said:

“Today’s report findings are appalling. The combined climate plans submitted account to a dismal 1% emissions reduction, far below the 45% reduction needed to limit global warming below 1.5 degrees, and avoid disastrous impacts on vulnerable communities.

While some countries who have contributed least to the climate crisis have increased their ambition, industrial and rich countries most to blame for global emissions, have miserably failed to step up to their responsibility.”

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Notes to the Editor:

For more information contact Tania Corbett tcorbett1@oxfam.org.uk or : +44 7824 824 359

• The IPCC Report 'Global Warming of 1.5°C' released October 2018, finds that limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require reductions of global human-caused CO2 Emissions (carbon dioxide) of 45% by 2030 compared to 2010
• Download full UNFCC report launched today
• Figures on climate targets can be found here
• According to the total Greenhouse gas emissions 2016: US: 5.83 billion tons CO2e, China: 11.58 billion tons CO2e, and Canada: 779.21 million tons CO2e, respectively, amounting together to 36.85% (37%) of the global total emission of 49.36 billion CO2e. Source: https://ourworldindata.org/greenhouse-gas-emission
• The EU has revised its target to reduce emissions by 55% from 1990 levels by 2030. But to be in line with 1.5 degrees target, they need to reduce emissions by 65% from 1990 levels by 2030
• The US, Canada, and China – accounting together to over a third of total global emissions - are yet to submit their revised climate plans, while Australia did not bother to revise theirs, and Brazil did not increase their ambitions to cut emissions. Oxfam believes that major emitters, especially the US, EU, and China, should set stronger and ambitious targets to cut their emissions and step up to do their fair share to prevent a climate disaster. Rich countries also need to urgently support the global South to guarantee justice and survival for the most vulnerable.