UN charts course to manage global warming-limit breach
UNEP’s detailed 'overshoot, peak and decline' pathway seeks to hold the peak as low as possible and then bring temperatures back down below the 1.5°C limit; report terms it ‘best remaining option’
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Context
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has released a report, 'Limiting Overshoot', detailing an 'overshoot, peak, and decline' pathway for global warming. This acknowledges that breaching the 1.5°C limit set by the is unavoidable, but aims to limit the peak and bring temperatures back down by 2100 through steep emission cuts and nature-based carbon removals.
UPSC Perspectives
Environmental
This report marks a significant shift in global climate strategy, transitioning from prevention to managing an inevitable overshoot (exceeding a specific warming target). The aimed to limit warming to well below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels. Acknowledging a temporary overshoot means relying heavily on Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technologies and nature-based solutions, like massive afforestation, to pull carbon out of the atmosphere later in the century. The compounding costs of this overshoot are severe, including crossing tipping points (critical thresholds where small changes lead to irreversible, large-scale impacts) in systems like the (AMOC) and the Amazon rainforest. UPSC aspirants must understand the difference between mitigation (cutting emissions) and CDR, as the report stresses the latter cannot replace the former. Furthermore, the emphasis on methane, a potent short-lived climate pollutant, highlights the need for immediate action, especially since agricultural emissions, a major source for India, are challenging to abate.
Governance
The diplomatic foundation for this 'overshoot' strategy was laid at the anticipated COP30 in Brazil, illustrating the evolving nature of international climate negotiations under the (UNFCCC). The 'Global Mutirão' consensus indicates a collective recognition of failing to meet the initial 1.5°C trajectory based on current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – the climate action plans submitted by countries under the . This necessitates a focus on closing adaptation gaps (the difference between implemented adaptation actions and societal needs). A key point for UPSC is the distinction between global pledges and national actions; for instance, India remains outside the , citing the vital role of agriculture and livestock in its economy and food security. The report serves as a reality check, demonstrating that governance must shift from idealistic targets to managing the consequences of a warmer world, requiring robust national policies to scale up both mitigation and adaptation.
Geopolitical
The transition to a managed overshoot occurs against a backdrop of complex geopolitics and energy security concerns. The simulated withdrawal of the United States from key climate agreements, including the and the (a mechanism to assist developing countries in adaptation and mitigation), severely undermines global cooperative efforts. Furthermore, the report highlights how geopolitical conflicts, such as the simulated closure of the Strait of Hormuz, can cause massive energy supply disruptions. Such crises often push nations to prioritize immediate energy security over long-term climate goals, potentially leading to a resurgence in fossil fuel reliance, particularly coal, as a short-term response. This underscores the energy trilemma – the challenge of balancing energy security, equity (affordability), and environmental sustainability. For UPSC, understanding how geopolitical shocks impact global climate commitments and transition pathways is crucial, as national interests frequently clash with global environmental imperatives.