Burning questions on climate

Rising carbon emission signals Western indifference

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The United Nations Conference of Parties (COP 30), scheduled for November 10 to 21 in Belem, Brazil, will start on the bleakest note in a decade, with the latest data from the World Meteorological Organization showing that the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere last year showed a record increase. The global average grew 3.5 parts per million (ppm) to 424 ppm in 2024 over 2023, the highest increase since modern measurements started in 1957. Among the key contributory factors for this surge is the accelerated burning of fossil fuels, including in India, though countries had pledged in 2023 to transition away from oil, coal, and gas. Global heating has created a vicious cycle of creating hotter and drier conditions, which caused historic levels of wildfire emissions in the Americas last year. In a nutshell, the world is suffering the consequences of the developed world abdicating its responsibility for global warming, a principle enshrined in the adoption of Common but Differentiated Responsibility