Assessing my country's progress in addressing climate change

Leaders from around the world are currently attending COP28 in Dubai, where there is a renewed sense of urgency to limit emissions and address the impacts of climate change. Many governments have pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in order to keep global warming below a 1.5C rise on pre-industrial levels. However, despite these commitments, 2023 is projected to be the warmest year on record, and scientists predict that global temperatures will surpass the 1.5C threshold within the next five years. An interactive chart is available to show which countries are on track with their commitments to meet the Paris climate goal of keeping global temperature rises below 1.5 degrees. However, it's important to note that not all countries have the same resources to independently tackle emissions reductions. Some less affluent nations have set two different goals, one they plan to achieve on their own and a more ambitious one they hope to meet with support from wealthy donors. The article only displays the independent targets. The emissions debate is nuanced, taking into account historical responsibility for climate change, which is not evenly distributed among all nations. To address this, the independent researchers at Climate Action Tracker have devised a method to calculate "fair share" targets, considering a country's historical contributions to global emissions as well as their current levels. Countries that have contributed significantly to emissions over the years have a greater responsibility to mitigate their impacts compared to those who have contributed less. Taking a closer look at individual countries, China is the largest annual emitter of greenhouse gases. Although it is less responsible for past contributions to global warming, its rapid economic growth has tipped the balance. While China has made great strides in adopting renewable energies, it still heavily relies on coal and has yet to join the Global Methane Pledge. The United States ranks second in annual emissions, and while recent policy changes have shown progress, the country still has a long way to go to meet its emissions goals. Brazil, under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has made progress in reversing the destruction of the Amazon. Deforestation in the Amazon hit a six-year low, and the country is calling for the creation of a forest fund at COP28 to incentivize other nations to reduce deforestation. However, Brazil continues with oil exploration and plans to align more closely with OPEC, undermining its emissions targets. The UK has achieved success in lowering emissions through the decarbonization of the energy sector and setting ambitious net zero targets. However, the UK's progress toward these goals has been insufficient in 2023 due to weakened green policies and the granting of new oil and gas licenses, which contradict a net zero future. There have been some positive global developments, such as the implementation of a "loss and damage fund" at COP28, which will assist developing countries in dealing with the destruction caused by climate change. Additionally, for the first time, countries have agreed to include greenhouse gas emissions from food and agriculture in their national plans to address climate change. Clean energy sources, particularly solar and wind, have seen significant expansion, and around 100 countries have pledged to triple renewable energy use by the end of the decade. However, despite the increase in clean energy, fossil fuel use continues to expand in some areas. Overall, there is still significant progress needed to meet emissions reduction targets and effectively address climate change. The article invites readers to submit any questions they have about COP28.