Comment: UN report finds climate action plans ‘insufficient’

"This sets an important tone for the UN climate meeting in Dubai later this month. With all actions committed so far by almost all nations of the world, we are on track to cut emissions by just 2% over the decade to 2030 - way, way off the 43% needed to keep temperature rises to 1.5°C.

“We've seen some of the worst climate impacts ever, in what's likely to be the hottest year ever, in 2023. And that's just at 1.2°C of warming; things get worse with every fraction of a degree we creep upwards. No-one can sit back and rest on past performance - climate change and its impacts respect no borders. With half of UK food imports coming from overseas, and half of those supply chains in climate impact hotspots, we are very much all in this together.

“So when Rishi Sunak and other world leaders gather at COP28 in a few weeks time, phase out of fossil fuels and ramp up of renewables will be firmly on the agenda. Not only are these the solutions we already have to get on track for faster, deeper emissions cuts this decade, they are also delivering jobs and growth as global markets drive costs down and deployment up; sitting back risks missing out."