Press releases

Governments are largely not making climate change action central to their COVID-19 recovery packages, despite some signs of good intentions, according to a new analysis released today by the Climate Action Tracker (CAT). The CAT has analysed the post-pandemic recovery packages of a selection of five big emitting countries: the China, the European Union, India, South Korea and the USA, finding that only two of them lean towards using the pandemic recovery to address the global climate crisis.

A post-lockdown economic recovery plan that incorporates and emphasises climate-friendly choices could help significantly in the battle against global warming, according to a new study. This is despite the sudden reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants during lockdown having a negligible impact on holding down global temperature change.

By aligning the next round of carbon cutting targets with the 1.5°C limit in the Paris Agreement, governments could halve the massive GDP losses in tropical countries and other severe climate impacts that would otherwise be expected by the end of this century under current climate action, according to a study published today in Earth System Dynamics.

Today’s youth could be left with the unfair task of mopping up decades worth of carbon emissions unless major-emitting countries significantly step up their 2030 climate targets, says a new study published in Nature Climate Change.

In its first major assessments of international shipping and aviation, the Climate Action Tracker has rated the 2030 climate targets for both sectors as “Critically insufficient”, and concludes that emissions may continue to rise sharply despite the impact of COVID-19.

We stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and with all of those pursuing justice, climate justice, and calling for an end to systemic racism.