Since 2010, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) releases yearly reports to synthesize information on the current stand of international climate policy. Specifically, it focusses on assessing the gap between the current trend in greenhouse gas emissions and what would be needed to limit the global temperature increase at 2°C.
For this year’s report, Jennifer Bansard was asked to provide comments on the chapter devoted to the role of non-state actors. Recent years showed a growing institutionalization of processes aimed at engaging non-state actors - such as private businesses, civil society organizations, and cities and regions - in efforts to manage climate change. The chapter highlights the potential for non-state actions to bridge the emissions gap and proposes options to harness this potential.
Overall the report concludes that even with the pledges made in Paris, the World is still heading for a temperature rise of 2.9 to 3.4°C this century. To get back on track it is urgent to up action in order to cut a further 25% from predicted 2030 emissions. The report was released days ahead of this year’s Climate Change Conference and is expected to give additional impetus to the negotiations in Marrakesh.
The report can be found at http://web.unep.org/emissionsgap/.