Further increase in global warming, on the eve of the international climate meeting

2024-11-10 18:31:54, Kosova & Bota CNA

Further increase in global warming, on the eve of the international climate

The high-level meeting on the environment 'COP29' will start on Monday in Baku, Azerbaijan, whose economy relies mainly on the sale of fossil fuels. As VOA correspondent Herny Ridgewell reports, during the 12-day meeting, world leaders and thousands of participants will try to negotiate ways to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released, amid warnings that efforts to limit global warming are far from reaching the target.

The year 2024 is likely to be the hottest on record with temperatures exceeding an important warming threshold: the internationally accepted target of not allowing a rise beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius for 20 or 30 years to limit global warming .

"This is the first year that exceeded the important threshold of 1.5°C," says Carlo Bountempo of the Copernicus Climate Change Service.

Limiting the increase in temperatures to below 1.5 degrees Celsius was the main goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement on the environment.

"Exceeding this limit could cause climate change that could be irreversible," says Ruth Townend of London-based Chatham House.

On the current trajectory, the United Nations says the world is heading for a global average temperature increase of about 3 degrees Celsius by the end of this century. This can lead to longer heat spells, deeper droughts, stronger storms and other problems.

"Annual greenhouse gas emissions are at an all-time high. Last year they increased by 1.3%," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

On Monday, the two-week high-level meeting on the environment 'COP29' starts in Baku, Azerbaijan.

A key part of this year's meeting is how richer countries can financially help poorer countries to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change.

"Without a decision on financial aid, everything will fail," says Ruth Townend of "Chatham House".

Azerbaijan is a major producer of oil and gas, fossil fuels that affect climate change.

"Azerbaijan is also a country that is endangered by climate change. The country provides 50 to 70% of its drinking water from outside its borders. So it is really in a difficult position. So it's in his interest to try for funds to help developing countries like himself, to find a way forward," says Ms Townend.

Shortly before the meeting in Baku, Donald Trump won the presidential election. It is possible that he will again withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement that sets targets on climate change. There are also fears of a trade war with China.

"It is unlikely that we will move towards a world that is more sustainable. So we have to learn how to manage the situation in these conditions of geopolitical instability, which will only increase in the future," says Ms. Townend.

From wildfires in California to deadly floods in Valencia, Spain, scientists say climate change is causing extreme weather and without urgent action, the situation is likely to get much worse./ VOA