Efforts to control climate change are falling short

Emissions from a power plant in Fairbanks, Alaska, in 2022. Global emissions of planet-warming greenhouse gasses increased between 2021 and 2022, according to a new report from the United Nations.

Mark Thiessen/AP

The hottest year on record is coming to a close, emissions of planet-warming gasses are still rising globally and the most ambitious climate goal set by world leaders is all but impossible to meet, according to a new analysis by the United Nations.

The annual report from the U.N. Environment Program lays out how far behind the world is on controlling planet-warming pollution, most of which comes from burning oil, gas and coal.

The numbers are sobering, and arrive less than two weeks before world leaders are set to gather in Dubai for the annual U.N. climate negotiations.

Between 2021 and 2022, global greenhouse gas emissions grew about 1%, the analysis finds. Emissions need to fall as quickly as possible to avoid catastrophic climate impacts such as runaway sea level rise, unsurvivable heat in some areas and mass extinction of plants and animals, scientists warn.

Right now, the world is headed for at least 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit of warming this century compared to global temperatures in the late 1800s. That assumes that countries will do everything they have currently promised under the Paris climate agreement, including things that some governments have said they’ll only do if wealthy countries follow through on promises to help foot the bill. For example, helping to pay for renewable energy infrastructure in less wealthy nations.

If such conditions aren’t met, the planet is headed for more than 5 degrees Fahrenheit of warming, the analysis finds.

The new range is ever so…