Scaling up climate action in South Africa

This report card on climate action shows that global efforts fall far short of what’s needed to limit warming to 1.5°C. While most indicators are heading in the right direction, not a single one of the 45 indicators is on track for 2030.

Claims from both the iron and steel - and cement - sectors that their emissions are "hard to abate" is slowing down real progress these sectors could be making on cutting emissions. This report unpacks the reality.

Both stronger 2030 targets and 1.5°C-aligned 2035 NDCs are needed to keep 1.5°C alive, argues this briefing. Without both, we risk overshooting the 1.5°C limit higher and longer, crossing dangerous tipping points, and losing sight of the Paris Agreement goals.

Governments plan to produce more than double the fossil fuels than is consistent with 1.5°C - this 'production gap' has widened since they committed to transitioning away from fossil fuels at COP28 in 2023

This study provides an equity-based approach to allocating national emissions trajectories. It finds that emissions targets of G7 countries, Russia and China are responsible for most of the global 2030 ambition gap, while only some countries align with their 1.5 °C allocation.

As climate change continues to accelerate, its multifaceted impacts will affect societies across the globe in increasingly complex and uneven ways. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of how socioeconomic factors interact with climate vulnerability up to the year 2100.

Cement is an integral base material for the global economy, but it poses a major climate challenge. Given China produces more than half the world’s cement, generating 13-15% of its national CO2 emissions, decarbonising this sector is critical to meeting China’s climate goals.

Western Australia is the only Australian state without an emissions reduction target. Here, we recommend 1.5˚C aligned targets for WA.