Continued obstacles to efforts to reduce emissions

- Technical barriers and policy discrepancies pose significant challenges to emissions reduction

Climate talks during the COP28 conference in Dubai focused on the goal of limiting the rise in Earth's temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial (1850-1900) average of 13.9 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. This target was previously set in the Paris Agreement in 2015, which is considered necessary to prevent some of the most devastating effects of climate change. To achieve this goal, many countries will have to drastically reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Climate models show that the global temperature has increased by 1.4 degrees Celsius. These models clearly show that if we do not reduce emissions, they will increase by three degrees Celsius by 2100. Greenhouse gas emissions, which were 14.5 billion tons in 1970, will increase to 53.8 billion tons by 2022. To keep temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius, we would need to cut emissions by 42 percent to about 22 billion tons by 2030.

There are many obstacles to achieving emissions reduction targets, including the non-binding nature of international climate resolutions, challenges in transitioning to solar and wind energy, and continued financial support for fossil fuels from developed countries: global climate efforts over the past five decades have raised awareness but emissions Reduction does not have such practical consequences. This journey began in 1972 with the establishment of the United Nations Environment Program as the first significant global initiative for environmental protection.

In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol was signed by 192 countries. In this treaty, mandatory emission reduction targets were set, mainly for developed countries. However, the effectiveness of the Kyoto Protocol was seriously affected when the USA, one of the largest emitters at the time, withdrew in 2001 citing economic concerns.

Starting a new chapter towards reducing the effects of climate change, the Paris Agreement entered into force in 2015, signed by 196 countries. Its goal was to limit global temperature rise to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, preferably below 1.5°C. The agreement introduced national commitments, under which countries outline their emissions plans. However, the voluntary nature of NDCs has raised doubts about their adequacy in achieving ambitious warming targets. UN28 calls for tripling of renewable energy by 2030.

There is stark contrast in the global energy landscape. Renewable energy use has increased, but so has total energy consumption. As a result, more and more fossil fuels are being used. This has set back efforts to mitigate climate change, as increased total energy demand hampers plans to reduce fossil fuel use. To counter this situation, there is a need to increase the use of renewable energy, widely implement energy efficiency schemes and adopt measures to reduce consumption.