Global fossil fuel production plans exceeding Paris goals, shows report

Governments around the world still plan to produce more than double the amount of fossil fuels in 2030 than would be consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5°C, a new report titled "The Production Gap" said on Wednesday.

- Jayashree Nandi

They plan to produce around 10% more fossil fuels in 2030 than would be consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C and 69% more than would be consistent with 2°C. Taken together, government plans and projections would lead to an increase in global coal production until 2030, and oil and gas production until at least 2050. This will not only lead to failure of the Paris Agreement goals of keeping warming under 2°C and preferably under 1.5°C, but is also in conflict with the net zero goals many countries have pledged.

"Major producer countries have pledged to achieve net-zero emissions and launched initiatives to reduce emissions from fossil fuel production, but none have committed to reduce coal, oil, and gas production in line with limiting warming to 1.5°C," the report by Stockholm Environment Institute, The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), and the United Nations Environment Programme states. New data in the report also clashes with expectations that global demand for coal, oil, and gas will peak within this decade even without new policies.