A landmark report by climate scientists released Monday will ratchet up the pressure on world leaders to rapidly end the use of polluting fossil fuels. The authors warned that time is fast running out to stop global warming from exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius, the lower end of the temperature targets agreed to in the 2015 Paris Agreement.
The report was signed off on by representatives from United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s nearly 200 member countries, a roster that includes climate laggards who haven’t yet set targets for lowering emissions that are in line with Paris goals. Few diplomats or leaders from these countries, however, have so far responded publicly to the IPCC’s findings.
One of the few that has spoken up is India, the world’s third-largest emitter. Bhupendra Yadav, India’s environment minister, took to Twitter on Monday to press the case that countries with the greatest historical emissions — mostly wealthier economies in North America and Europe — should carry the largest share of the burden now. The report, he said, should add force to calls for rich countries to shrink their carbon footprints.