Credibility gap in net-zero climate targets leaves world at high risk

Rogelj, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2056-9061, Fransen, T., den Elzen, M.G.J., Lamboll, R.D., Schumer, C., Kuramochi, T., Hans, F., Moldijk, S., et al. (2023). Credibility gap in net-zero climate targets leaves world at high risk. Science 380 (6649) 1014-1016. 10.1126/science.adg6428.

Preview	Text Rogelj_NetZero_Science_postprint.pdf - Submitted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (555kB) | Preview
Preview	Text Science_PolicyForum_pfRogelj11may_JR_pre-proof.pdf - Supplemental Material Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (678kB) | Preview

Abstract

Global climate policy is undergoing a rite of passage. What used to be a conversation about ambitious target setting now focuses increasingly on implementation and interventions to achieve these targets. This liminal transition from ambition to implementation is complex and presents deep ambiguities that are challenging for scientists to communicate and decision-makers to fathom. A critical question is whether we can believe that countries will deliver on the commitments they have made. By evaluating policy characteristics of countries’ net-zero targets, we can assign the targets credibility ratings, then estimate how greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and temperature are differentiated by our confidence in the targets. When we consider the credibility of current climate pledges, our assessment shows that the world remains far from delivering a safe climate future.

Actions (login required)

View Item