Governments' Fossil Fuel Plans Threaten 1.5°C Target
Governments worldwide are facing criticism for their fossil fuel production plans, which could lead to warming beyond the 1.5°C target. Despite pledging to reduce emissions, many nations are set to increase production by 2030, according to the latest Production Gap Report.
China, the world's largest emitter, continues to support coal through its state-owned enterprises, despite leading in renewable technology. Meanwhile, the U.S. is opening new areas for fossil fuel exploration while slowing clean-energy progress. In Europe, climate leadership has weakened due to political shifts and competing priorities. Many major emitters, including China, the USA, and India, are planning to boost their fossil fuel production by 2030, contradicting their Paris Agreement aspirations.
Tackling hard-to-abate sectors like heavy industry and agriculture is crucial for deeper emissions cuts. However, Brazil, host of COP30, is expanding offshore oil and gas production despite its progress on renewables. The report warns that governments are planning to produce far more fossil fuels in 2030 than climate targets allow. Only a few countries have submitted new or more ambitious climate pledges ahead of COP30, widening the gap between climate rhetoric and reality.
The 1.5°C goal is becoming harder and costlier to achieve due to the widening gap between climate rhetoric and reality. Fossil fuel consumption subsidies, estimated at $620 billion in 2023, remain a major obstacle. Urgent policy changes are needed to align fossil fuel production with climate targets and ensure a sustainable future.
