New climate report calls for significantly more climate action to curb rising temperatures

The new report from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) seriously questions whether it is possible to keep global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees. The sum of political signals and market willingness to change raised hopes of keeping this vital goal alive at the COP26 in Glasgow in November. However, now the new report says we need to almost halve total greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 for it to be realistic – and we only have eight years to do it.

"It's clear that the window for action is getting smaller and smaller. But it is still ajar, and we quite simply have an obligation to take advantage of it. Now we need to get as close to 1.5 degrees as possible. Every tenth counts, and the report underlines the fact that there is a significant difference at every step between 1.5 and 2 degrees in terms of climate impact," says CONCITO Director Christian Ibsen.

The report focuses on how and how much we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate climate change. It follows two previous IPCC reports which showed that climate change is man-made and will affect lives around the globe.

The world risks getting even warmer

The UN report also shows that we could be looking at a temperature rise of 2.5 to 3 degrees by the end of the 21st century if emissions are not significantly cut. Previous IPCC reports have shown that temperatures at that level will have incalculable consequences for people, animals, and nature around the globe. 

"It will be difficult, but it is not impossible. However, it will require political ambition to be significantly stepped up both internationally and at home," says Christian Ibsen.

Test of strength between the short and long term in climate policy

The new climate report lands in the shadow of the war in Ukraine, where European energy supply and climate policy are under intense pressure. The EU risks taking short-term decisions that damage the climate to get out of European dependence on Russian gas and oil.

“This may be necessary, but it is crucial that we don’t cut back on the green transition in the long term. As a green leader, Denmark must help lead the way, which will require faster reductions in our own emissions and greater ambition,” says Christian Ibsen.

“We need to accelerate the implementation of the climate decisions that have already been taken to ensure a positive effect as soon as possible. We also need to initiate new things, not only much more renewable energy to get rid of fossil fuels. And finally, we should start looking seriously at bringing forward the net-zero target from 2050 to 2040, so that Denmark follows countries like Sweden and Germany that have already moved their net-zero,” he says.

Solutions exist and can be implemented

CONCITO has also previously shown that we can save a full year of emissions on the way to Denmark's 70% reduction target in 2030. This requires us to implement even more initiatives here and now, so we gradually increase reductions instead of the current hockey-stick model of doing a little now and a lot eventually.

The good news is that the IPCC report documents that it is possible to deliver the required 45% reduction by 2030 at very limited additional cost with technologies currently on the market. Many solutions are directly profitable. If the potential avoided climate damage is also taken into account, it will clearly be economically attractive to focus on limiting emissions and thus global warming.

"The best thing Danish politicians can do right now is to lead the way at home and push primarily in the EU to accelerate the implementation of the new Fit for 55 climate plan. We have a strong voice internationally, and we must understand how to use it," says Christian Ibsen.

You can read the main points from the report here.