News Center- The Paris Agreement, adopted ten years ago, aimed to limit global warming to well below 2°C - ideally 1.5°C -above pre-industrial levels. Yet, ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil (Nov 6–21), the UN issued a stark warning: Earth is heading toward a 2.5°C temperature rise, far exceeding targets and threatening severe environmental and humanitarian consequences.

According to the UN Environment Programme, even if nations meet current pledges, global temperatures could rise between 2.3°C and 2.5°C this century. Fossil fuel consumption continues to increase, raising greenhouse gas emissions by 2.3% in 2024. India, followed by China, Russia, and Indonesia, contributed most to this rise.

Lead author Anne Olhoff stated that “ambition and action remain far from sufficient.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged countries to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 to keep warming below 1.5°C by century’s end, emphasizing that “our mission is simple but not easy.”

The UN’s latest report shows projected emission cuts by 2030 are only 10%—far short of the 60% needed. Despite data gaps, it’s clear the Paris goals are slipping away, prompting discussions of a limited, temporary overshoot scenario. UNEP head Inger Andersen stressed the need for “unprecedented emission reductions within a rapidly closing window amid a difficult geopolitical context.