World is ‘doubling down’ on fossil fuels despite climate crisis – UN report

Production must fall by 6% a year to avoid severe climate disruption' but Covid-19 funding is supporting increases

The world's governments are doubling down" on fossil fuels despite the urgent need for cuts in carbon emissions to tackle the climate crisis, a report by the UN and partners has found.

The researchers say production of coal, oil and gas must fall by 6% a year until 2030 to keep global heating under the 1.5C target agreed in the Paris accord and avoid severe climate disruption". But nations are planning production increases of 2% a year and G20 countries are giving 50% more coronavirus recovery funding to fossil fuels than to clean energy.